People with this Tool

	Author	Item	Owner	Quantity	Condition	Category
	lxpk	Sunblock	lxpk	1		Inventory

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Related Skills: 

Surviving

Sunblock is a must to protect your skin from sunburn when you're outdoors.

Apply Sunblock Under Clothes

Keep in mind that many experts have a problem with using the term 'sunblock' at all, since no product really blocks all of the sun's rays. In fact, even your clothing lets some of the sun's rays reach your body. For example, wearing a regular cotton T-shirt is comparable to having a sunscreen with SPF 5 on your skin.

Don't Trust Cheap Sunblock

"Man I just got back from Kerala and I have the sunburn from hades. My back had yellow blisters on it. I bought some sunblock from a street vendor that purported to be spf 50 banana boat whatever. I got burned, literally and figuratively! After realizing that I'd been sunburned, I looked closely at the bottle and the text wasn't spelled right and had some chinese characters. One of my housemates is an Aussie Lt. Col. and he was making fun of me - apparently, they consider that a self-inflicted wound and a potentially court-martial-able offense."

—J.D.

Sunblock vs Sunscreen

 

http://www.tranism.com/weblog/archives/2006/02/selkbag.html

I just discovered a nifty little invention called the Selk'bag.
It's a crafty invention that resembles a sleeping bag, but its really much more like a body bag.
You wear it like a suit, but it makes sleeping very comfy and convenient when you're out camping or just exploring the wilderness.



I think people like Alex Peake would enjoy this, since he's so involved with tactical living and self-sustainability. Anybody who is interested in self-sustainability, outdoorsy fun, or adventures, would really enjoy this. Imagine pulling this thing out of it's sack, throwing it on, and laying down anywhere and just falling asleep. You would probably need something to warm and protect your face so that it wouldn't get too cold - perhaps a ski mask would prove useful. You won't have to worry about stuff leaking into it, pillows, or unwieldy laying down and rolling up. Granted, you would still have to roll it up again to throw it back into it's sack, but it would be much easier and self-satisfying to know that you just wore it like a suit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This reminds me of a space-suit. Although, unfortunately you wouldn't be wearing it in outer space. However, the temperatures in outer space are so fridgid, that I guess you wouldn't mind wearing it in the dead of night in the middle of the forest, where, much like outer space (sans vacums that would vaporize you in a microsecond) precipitation is high and the temperature is incredibly low. How nice must it feel, to have your body heat circulating inside a perfectly fitting, snug and comfortable, body bag?

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All Skill Factors

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Surviving

Rock Sharpening

"I do not waste space or weight on a sharpening stone. With a little practice, just about anyone can sharpen a knife using a smooth rock found in the outdoors."

—M4040

 Kukri Sharpening

http://www.thekhukurihouse.com/Content/Maintenance.php 

http://drupal.org/node/162695 

Tool Data

Related Skills: 

First Aid

"A great way to start a fire: Fuck tinder. Take about three feet of toilet paper and wrap it around your hand. Hold the top in about hal way, then flip it over on your hand and fold the bottom in about half way, making a donut. Set under kindling, ignite and get warm. And if you don’t carry toilet paper, you’re a savage, you can probably start fires with a hard gaze."

—hagcel

Toilet paper is a prepositioning essential so stock up because if you needed it and you didn't have it, it would suck. 

Ziplock Bags for waterproof carrying

Wet toilet paper is no good so always store toilet paper rolls inside of ziplock bags.

 

A secondary belt is used for carrying second-line carried gear holsters, pouches and sheaths that you want to be able to take off when necessary.

Most secondary belts have fastex quick-release buckles so as to be easily put on and taken off.

Some secondary belts have PALS webbing for malice clipping on accessory pouches.

Police carry most of their gear such as guns, knives, batons, tazers, pepper spray, handcuffs and radios on a second-line duty belt.

Camoform tape is self-clinging camouflage fabric tape for wrapping rifles, handles, sheaths, bikes and just about any other piece of gear.

Camo Form Wrap, Ultimate in easy camo; simple to apply, stretch wrap fabric sticks to itself, not a tape, leaves no residue, improves grip, reusable, 2" wide 144" roll, perfect for guns, scopes, binoculars, spotters or camcorder. 

Colors: It is available in MARPAT, desert and other patterns.

Cost: $10 per roll from Cheaperthandirt.com.

One roll is enough to tape most rifles. Another roll will cover 5 or 6 magazines.

People with this Tool

	Author	Item	Owner	Quantity	Condition	Category
	bigbrother	Paracord	bigbrother	1	new	Inventory

Paracord or 550 cord is MILSPEC cordage of exceptional strength for tying together shelters, padding knife handles, making fishing lines and doing just about anything else you might need cord for.

Parachute cord (also paracord or 550 cord) is a lightweight nylon kernmantle rope originally used in the suspension lines of US parachutes during World War II. Once in the field, paratroopers found this cord useful for many other tasks. It is now used as a general purpose utility cord by both military personnel and civilians. This versatile cord was even used by astronauts during STS-82, the second Space Shuttle mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope.^[1]

The braided sheath has a high number of interwoven strands for its size, giving it a relatively smooth texture. The all nylon construction makes paracord fairly elastic; depending on the application this can be either an asset or a liability.

Military Usage

Despite the historic association of paracord with Airborne units, virtually all US units have access to the cord. It is used in almost any situation where light cordage is needed. Typical uses include attaching equipment to harnesses, as dummy cords to avoid losing small or important items, tying rucksacks to vehicle racks, securing camouflage nets to trees or vehicles, and so forth. When threaded with beads, paracord may be used as a pace counter to estimate ground covered by foot. The yarns of the core (commonly referred to as "the guts") can also be removed when finer string is needed, for instance as sewing thread to repair gear or fishing line in a survival situation. The nylon sheath is often used alone, the yarn in the core removed, when a thinner or less elastic cord is needed. Ends of the cord are almost always melted and crimped to prevent fraying.

US Military issue paracord is specified by MIL-C-5040H in six types: I, IA, II, IIA, III, IV.^[2] Types IA and IIA are composed solely of a sheath without a core. Type III, a type commonly found in use, is nominally rated with a minimum breaking strength of 550 pounds, thus the sobriquet "550 cord".

—http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parachute_cord

 

Category: 

task

Priority: 

normal

Assigned: 

skye

Assemble a field kitchen to feed activists before/during/after activities, especially Hack Sabbath.

People with this Idea

	Title	Author	%	Category	Thoughts
	New Environments	INT03h		Interest	Idea Group:  New Environments Idea Category:  Interest
	The sea is a big big place.	Agent Pugsly		Belief	Idea Group:  New Environments Idea Category:  Belief The bounties of the sea are countless and the space is great.  Capturing wave power and the meats and plants of the sea can very well place a large number of humans comfortably on artificial envronments.   Aye Aye Cpn!  Full sails ahead!
	New Environments, getting offworld so humanity survives	lxpk	75	Belief	Percentage:  75 Idea Group:  New Environments Idea Category:  Belief I'm pro-humanity and ensuring humanity survives is priority #1. Most of our efforts should be focused on staying alive on planet Earth through peace and technology, but we should also prepare for Earth-shattering events by getting sustainable off-world colonies started.

Right now we've got all our eggs in One Basket

"So that when somebody else comes, after we beat the buggers, when somebody else comes here to defeat us, they’ll find we’ve already spread over a thousand worlds, we’re at peace with ourselves and impossible to destroy. Do you understand? I want to save mankind from self-destruction."

--Peter Wiggin in Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card

Little Blue Marble, Big Black Space

We've all heard the old addage not to keep all of our eggs in one basket. The reasoning behind this advice, of course, is that should disaster strike your basket, you don't lose all your eggs. Pretty straightforward, right?

Right now, we (the human race) are not heeding our own advice in the matter. We're the proverbial eggs and Earth is the basket in which we are so precariously riding.

The situation

The human race is currently operating with a minimum level of redundancy--individual bodies provide a layer of separation, genetic variances further that separation, and we've altered our local habitats in various ways which also provide differences. Let me take a moment to explore these three concepts a bit deeper...

Bodies - Every person on this planet, with their unique, separate, autonomous body represents an individual unit of humanity. So long as one or more person remains alive and functional, the human race is survived. So, that's what, about six or seven billion points of failure?

Genetic Variances - In reality, two individuals do not represent nearly enough diversity to maintain a valid, functional gene pool, so that changes the odds a bit. In other words, the closer we get to zero (read: extinction), the less robust our race will be.

That said, we've currently got a pretty diverse gene pool going on. This is what I meant when I said that genetic diversity provide further insulation from threats--in this case, the threat being resisted would be biological (in the form of viruses (both natural and artificial) and genetic weaknesses).

Local Habitats - We've also taken to altering little corners of our environment to create ease, enhance safety, and otherwise suit our personal fancies. Now, granted, we don't always do such a good job of this, but as a concept, it can provide further insulation from threats (e.g. bomb shelters, structures on stilts to deal with flooding, flexible, earthquake resistant structures, etc.).

So far, sounds like we're doing pretty good, eh? I mean, there're literally billions of us running around, building better structures and combining our DNA into new bodies. The thing is, with the exception of using technology to enhance our environments, these traits are simply inherent--natural. We're not taking the initiative to hedge our collective bets.

Also, everything discussed so far happens at a single planetary scale or smaller. Hence, Little Blue Marble, Big Black Space.

Threats

From a global level threat scale and higher, humanity exists as a single target. One planet-wide disaster/attack could remove us from the universe, just like that.

Natural

I'd say the biggest natural threat would be the possibility of a large celestial body of some type colliding with our planet. We can see a lot of this stuff coming, but would we really be able to do anything about it in time?

Probably not.

Man-made

Now, here's where it starts to get really scary. For the first time in history, humans are beginning to develop technology which poses a potential threat to humanity as a whole (not to mention the other species we share the planet with).

These dangers to ourselves have, so far, manifested themselves as three major threats--global nuclear war, biological warfare, and population growth/resource management.

Solutions

Okay, enough with the gloom and doom already. What do we do about it? We expand.

Terrestrial Expansion

One of the easiest things to do is expand list the habitats we call home. Floating cities, and especially underwater cities provide us with another degree of separation (or another redundant point of failure if you prefer).

Extraterrestrial Expansion

This is the one we should probably be looking at. By having separate, autonomous, extraterrestrial human habitats, we effectively increase the number of targets and redundant points of human existance. This should probably have become a major focus as soon as we learned how to escape Earth's gravity, but for some reason we're dragging our feet.

Off-world expansion can take many forms, each having its own strengths and weaknesses--space stations, colonies on alternative planets and moons, and generational ships provide an array of different possibilities.

Each independent, self sustaining body of humans provides an extra 'basket' to carry some more 'eggs', to continue the metaphor.

People with this Tool

	Author	Item	Owner	Quantity	Condition	Category
	lxpk	Boots, Original SWAT 9" Leather Waterproof Side Zip	lxpk	1	Scuffed in the front	Inventory

Manufacturer Site

COST: $100

Reviews: Original SWAT Review (not the same model but same brand), Borelli Consulting Review

VIDEO: Original SWAT Commercial

People with this Tool

	Author	Item	Owner	Quantity	Condition	Category
	lxpk	MSR Pack Towel	lxpk	1		Inventory

Link: http://www.msrgear.com/packtowl/ultralite.asp

Size: 10x14" (Viscose)

Weight: 0.9 oz

Reviews

"I love being able to jump into a lake or river with the confidence that, no matter how cold the water, I'll be warm and dry within 5-minutes of getting out. The Pack Towel is a key component in being able to accomplish this feat. The Viscose material absorbs water quickly and you can hand wring it 90% dry in no time. There's really no reason to carry a larger version of this product - Just wipe, wring, and repeat until all the water is off of you. The size that I pack is the "kitchen towel". The material also dries very quickly, so I never worry about having to drag around a water-logged towel all whole day.

DOSPEC Testing

"I obtained one and I like it very much." —LXPK

"A towel is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have. You can wrap it around you for warmth as you bound across the cold moons of Jaglan Beta…wet it for use in hand-to-hand combat…wrap it around your head to ward off noxious fumes…any man who can hitch the length and breadth of the Galaxy, rough it … win through, and still know where his towel is, is clearly a man to be reckoned with."

—Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy

"Adams had gone on holiday in Greece, but every time he had decided to go to the beach with his fellows, he discovered that his towel would disappear, and could be found only after hours of searching. After the holiday had ended, he decided that anyone who really had their life in order would always know the location of such a useful item, hence the fictional aphorism "A hoopy frood always knows where his towel is". He had no idea that this towel joke, which first appeared in the seventh radio episode, and subsequently in the first book, would catch on so thoroughly. He assumed, after learning that so many people liked and understood the joke, that he was not the only one with such an experience. After his death, Towel Day was established on May 25 as a tribute (two weeks after the date of his death)."

—http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hitchhiker%27s_Guide_to_the_Galaxy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Towel_Day
 

The US Military Modular Goretex Sleeping Bag System is one of the finest sleeping systems and you can get one for $100 on ebay.

Genuine US military issue Modular Sleep System (MSS). National Stock Number 8465-014456274. This patented state of the art system has been tested and proven effective by the military for bivouacking in all types of inclement weather. The unique snap closure system allows integration of each sleeping bag to the waterproof Bivy, each bag to the other and both bags mated to the Bivy for the Extreme Cold Weather configuration. Patrol & Intermediate Bag weigh no more than 7 pounds according to the Military Specification. Specification temperature zones: Completely integrated the system is rated to -30°F  when used in conjunction with expedition weight polypropylene shirt, drawers and issue cushion sole woolen socks. To obtain lower temperature ratings, additional layers of Extreme Cold Weather Clothing articles must be added to the user's clothing ensemble inside the sleeping bag.

COMPLETE SYSTEM CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING 4 COMPONENTS: 

GORE-TEX® BIVY BAG: GORE-TEX®  Fabric PTFE 3 Layer Laminate
Mummy design bag cover for integration with the Modular Sleep System (MSS) for cold – wet conditions. The snap closure system allows each bag to snap to the Bivy. Fabric: Waterproof and Moisture Vapor Permeable plain weave Taslite nylon. Color: Woodland Camouflage Pattern on the top, Camo Green ground shade on the bottom. Cloth weight: 6.0 ounces/Sq. Yd. maximum. Dimensions: Length 85’’ maximum; Width at feet 28’’ minimum, at shoulders, 35’’ maximum. [2lb]

PATROL SLEEPING BAG: Mummy design for temperate climates of 30 to 50 Degrees F as a single bag. Snaps to the Bivy for use in slightly colder-wet zones. Insert the Intermediate Bag inside for colder extremes. Fabric for the shell and lining: 1.9oz ripstop nylon with water resistant finish. Insulation Fill: Polargard® HV, hollow continuous filament resin bonded polyester. Features an adjustable hood, nylon zipper closure. Dimensions: 90’’ – 92’’ long; 36’’ – 37’’ wide. Color: Green. [3lb]

INTERMEDIATE COLD WEATHER SLEEPING BAG:
Mummy design for colder weather climates of 30 to Minus 10 Degrees F as a single bag. Snaps to the Bivy for use in colder-wet zones. Insert inside the Patrol Bag for extreme cold environments. Fabric for the shell and lining: 1.9oz ripstop nylon with water resistant finish. Insulation Fill: Polargard® HV, hollow continuous filament resin bonded polyester. Features an adjustable hood. Dimensions: 85’’ – 87’’long; 34.5’’ - 35.5’’ wide. Color: Black. [4lb]

COMPRESSION STUFF SACK:
Cylinder shape, measuring 28’’ to 30’’ long X 12’’ to 14’’ diameter. Cinching straps with ladder lock buckles tighten and compress the system to one cubic foot to fit inside the bag compartment of the Internal Frame Large Combat Field Pack. Nylon draw cord closure with barrel lock. Plain weave nylon, urethane coated for water resistance. Color: Solid Black.

When new, this modular system cost $389.95 each.  This is a previously issued system.

Cost: $100-150 Ebay Search

 

Reviews

 

I have spent the better part of the last three years sleeping in this new modular sleeping bag system. I really like the new system for many reasons. The old sleeping bags were very susceptible to water and took up too much room in or on your ruck (back-pack). If your sleeping bag ever got wet, you were in for a miserable night. This new Gortex® sleeping bag system is waterproof. I have not got wet at anytime since I started using this sleeping bag. I have used it all over the world. As anyone one can tell you who has ever been in a wet sleeping bag, it is something you will not soon forget!

The sleeping bag is an all weather bag and in my opinion one of the best on the market today. Over the last few years technology has made it possible for manufactures to create lighter sleeping bags that take up less and less room. This makes life a whole lot easier for the soldiers as well as hikers, adventurers and campers. This sleeping bag comes with three parts and a compression bag. The outer shell is a Gortex® bivy bag. This waterproof bivy bag is awesome. It keeps you dry in nearly any climate. Dew will not penetrate this bivy. It also acts as a windbreaker and dust or dirt barrier. Furthermore it’s the first layer that keeps the cold and wet out, and your body heat in.

The next layer is the patrol sleeping bag. This inserts into the Gortex® shell and snaps in place. It’s made with rip stop nylon with a water resistant finish, Polargard®. This insert has an adjustable hood and zipper. This with the shell is designed to keep a soldier warm in climates down to 30 degrees. Finally you have the intermediate cold weather bag. This bag inserts into the patrol bag. This sleeping bag is also made with rip stop nylon and Polargard®. This bag is good to -10 degrees when used without the patrol bag. It is extremely warm. It is made of Polargard ® HV, hollow continuous filament resin bonded polyester.

The last part of this modular system is the Compression stuff sack. This stuff sack has a cylinder shape and is also water resistant with a urethane coating. This compression sack is really neat. I had never used one before, so I found the new goodie particularly handy and neat! Once your sleeping bag is all put together, you just grab the bottom of the bags, including the Gortex® shell and simply stuff it in to this sack. Once the bags are in the sack you draw the closure shut and lock it sing the barrel lock. Then you start cinching down the side straps using the ladder lock buckles. I would generally cinch the U.S. Military Modular Gortex® Sleeping Bag System
down to the size of a football.
• Polargard Intermediate Cold Weather bag
• Polargard Patrol Sleeping Bag
• Gortex Bivy Bag
• Compression Stuff Sack
• 9 LBS
• 87" LONG
• 35" WIDE

Final Thoughts
I really like the U.S. Military Modular Gortex® Sleeping Bag System. It is a very welcome addition to the military gear of the U.S. soldier. The soldier is set up for all four seasons with this new bag. I have spent a Winter in the high desert of Utah and a Summer in Iraq with this bag. The temperatures ranged from -30 degrees to +117 degrees. I have purchased my own U.S. Military Modular Gortex® Sleeping Bag System to use in the civilian world. This is a great all a round sleeping bag. When you use both sleeping inserts inside the Gortex® bivy, you can keep warm is some very cold climates. I do not think you can beat this bag for the price. Unless you are going to do some very serious mountaineering / climbing or go to one of the Arctic regions, this sleeping bag will work for you. This sleeping system retails for around $250.00 to $399.00, you can shop around and find some the better prices.I give this excellent sleeping bag five of five stars.

Thanks for the read,
~Mac  ©2004 Joe McMaster

The worlds best sleeping bag for the worlds best Army!
by sachbvn
I remember when I was first "down range" in Basic Training at Fort Benning. As we were issued our equipment, we were given these god awful looking sleeping bags. I instantly thought "how the hell are you supposed to sleep outside with this thing without a tent - further more - how is this (the bag) going to fit into this (the rucksack)!!! Before our first opportunity to stay outside all night we were issued these new "fart sacks". The Gortex sleeping system. Two inner shells with an all weather outter shell. The first night out was a "night fire" and I was in the squad in charge of cleaning up the range afterwords - it poured rain all night. We were all soaking wet before it was time to get some sleep - needless to say I went to bed cold and wet and woke up.... warm and not so wet. Great sleeping bag, I now think about camping and think "I don't need a tent, just a Gortex bag and I'm good to go! Not to mention you can get a compression bag that makes the whoe system about the size of a womans basketball... NICE!

http://www.epinions.com/content_158336454276

Tool Data

Related Skills: 

Sheltering

Stuff sacks are superb for compressing packed third-line gear like sleeping bags and clothes into a backpack or luggage because they minimize the space needed.

Usage

Backpacking: Compression sacks are handy for taking gear in and out of a stuffed backpack without making a mess quickly.

Shopping: You can use compression sacks for shopping. Avoid wasting disposable shopping bags for environmentalism points.

Compression Sack Dry Bags

These compression sacks keep their contents not only tight but also dry.

GraniteGear Airline Air Compressor Stuff Sack $23-30

Air Compressor The newest compression stuffsack from Granite Gear. It’s our answer for the ultralight packer who wants to save weight by compressing gear and carrying a smaller pack. If you’re familiar with our Rock Solid compression stuffsacks, you know we’ve been making the best packing systems since our beginning in 1986. If you think about it, these stuffsacks need to handle a lot of stress, and it’s no easy feat to shave ounces, but that’s exactly what we’ve done. 210 denier lid and arches are beefy where it’s needed.

Mass: 70-116g Capacity: 7.8-23L Dimensions: 17 x 38cm/6.5 x 16.5" - 25 x 52cm/10 x 20.5" Reviews: BackpackGearTest.org Review: Recommended

GraniteGear Zipp Bag XL $16.50 

A more convenient stuff sack that lacks compression. They zip wide open for easy access to all your stuff. We make them in four sizes that are perfectly suited for your clothing and other miscellaneous gear. Made of 210 D Nylon. Colors: Assorted

139g 43x25x23cm 17 x 10 x 9" 25L

 

 

 

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Tech fallback means asking, "What happens when the tech fails?"

Okay, so, it's the twenty-first century and all that. Tech's proceding faster now than it ever has at any time in human history. We just keep taking all these neat things we've learned and wonderful toys and tools we've made and combining and recombining them into newer and more wonderful things. Good times, huh?

Well, along with all of these amazing developments comes a new danger. Namely that of addiction to our technology.

Think about it – most people don't.

So you've got a GPS and think you don't need to learn how to navigate by stars or read a map? Well, what happens when your battery dies (or the satellite network dies) or the signal is being blocked by a hostile force? Don't need to keep in shape ('cause you don't ever have to lift something heavy, and you can always drive to get where you're going)? Well, what happens when you get pinned and have to lift something heavy? What happens when your car breaks down or you can't get more gas?

Don't get me wrong, here, either. I'm not some kind of crazy luddite survivalist who wants to burn books and smash the tubes (you know, the ones that the Internet is made of?). In fact I'm just the opposite--I've got a real crush on science and technology.

The point is, as we become more and more reliant on our newer and newer tech, we run the risk of atrophying our older (lower tech) skills. Coming to depend on tech leads straight into the trap of What Happens When the Tech Stops?

Preparedness

I was never a boy scout, but I've always agreed with their notion of being prepared. Kind of like not having all your eggs in one basket, you can set up your mind (and life) so that you'll have options, or multiple levels of redundancy.

That way, if the tech loses its functionality, you're not caught with your pants down.

These options I'm describing can be built up in a number of different ways.

Technology Fasting

We are surrounded by our creations more or less non-stop from birth (and before, depending on how you look at it). A lot of this stuff gets taken for granted, and like I said earlier becomes an addiction for us.

By consciously (even if only periodically) limiting the direct influences of technology in our lives, we are able to limit our reliance on such things.

Try this some time: cut out some tech that you use regularly. Take the battery out of your cell phone for a day or two, unplug the TV, park the car, leave the computer-machine off, cut your circuit-breaker.....whatever.

All of these things have become so ubiquitously pervasive that many of us wouldn't be able to function (much less know what to do with theirselves) without the steady emanations from our trusty devices. This is a powerful exercise for two reasons. Firstly, it quickly makes it apparent just how much influence these contraptions exert over your life. Secondly, without them, life still does go on. By fasting from these devices, we are able to practice living without them for awhile, and can find new ways of making life happen.

Tech Fallback

Limiting and controlling the direct effects of tech in our personal lives can be rewarding and educational, but cutting out the tech completely is not the only way to bolster your defenses against the potential hazards of too much technological reliance.

Make backups.

Substitute one kind of tech for another. This has the benefit of broadening your skillset/toolset for dealing with life, as well as diversifying the conditions you can acclimate to (e.g. your GPS may've quit, but your map probably still works–maps are tech, too, and by having both available (and knowing how to use both), you have just doubled your potential tools).

Just about anything can be done in more than one way, and as we (humans) discover new and better ways to do things, the older methods and tools sometimes get dropped by the wayside and forgotten about. This is bad, because it limits your opportunities.

Backups and alternative methods for doing things provide you with different options, and levels of redundancy. All have to fail before you are totally screwed.

Camelbaks are wearable water reservoirs with drinking straws. Hydrate or die.

You want a high-capacity 3L Camelbak like the Thermobak 3L.

Buy one in camouflage pattern that matches your gear or black for urban use.

Fill with ice and cold water to keep you cool in the heat.

Camelbaks are essential for surviving in the desert such as Burning Man's Black Rock City playa.

People with this Tool

	Author	Item	Owner	Quantity	Condition	Category
	lxpk	Cold Steel kukri machete	lxpk	2	new	Inventory
	Taylor	Kukri	lxpk	1		Wishlist

Tool Data

Tool Type: 

a category of tools

Related Skills: 

Sheltering

A kukri is a superbly powerful chopping tool that combines the best features of a knife, a machete, a hatchet and a katana. It's actually a bit of a sword.

Kukris

There are many makes of kukri available.

Generally speaking, 1/8" thick blades are better for quick machete work and 1/4" thick blades are better for heavy chopping.

A guide to kukri makes

Cold Steel Gurka Kukri $85+8s/h=$94

The Cold Steel Gurka Kukri is a thick 5/16" blade for heavy-duty chopping work.

Model: 39LGK Weight: 22 oz. Blade: 12" Thick: 5/16" Overall: 17" Handle: Kraton® Sheath: Secure-Ex® Steel: SK-5 High Carbon Black Epoxy Powder Coat Finish

Cold Steel Kukri Machete $20

This kukri is 1/8" thick for fast machete slicing and comes preblackened and ready for work. It is not as substantial as the 5/16" Gurka Kukri and those wanting a hatchet-like chopping kukri should get the heavier Gurka model.

Customization: Augment its handle with a paracord wrap to add shock absorbancy, grip reliability and a useful source of paracord in a survival emergency. Paracord Handle Wrapping Instructions. Add some camoform tape.

Reviews: Stress Test Review

Customized Survival Khukri $20 + effort

Buy a Sarco Nepalese imported Kukri for $12 and replace its painful wooden handle with paracord wrapping, parkerize its blade black, sharpen the back of the tip for stabbing,

"Now I truly can say that I would carry this tool in the field. It is a joy to work with, and has a feel like no other knife. I enjoy doing this sort of work, but for those with less time and more money to throw around, you can now buy a modernized Khukri workhorse direct from the folks at the Cold Steel company. Their Khukri (Cold Steel Model 35ATCBB) seems to be top notch (I do not have one, but will trust that this knife meets their typically high standards). The Cold Steel will set one back anywhere from $100 to $150. Mine cost me about $20 and a little elbow grease. Ghurka Khukri’s are readily available on quite a few sites, and typically sell at about $20-$30. I get mine at Sarco ( see them at HERE ). Although they may look ornamental, the steel is quite good, and takes a very good edge with a bit of honing, and as you can see, they clean up real nice : )"

 

Kukri Usage

Knife Laws

Carrying and using blades is regulated by state and city laws. IANAL: We can't give legal advice. But here's a site that has information: Knife Laws Online Keep in mind that just because you think the letter of the law says you should be allowed to carry a knife in a given sitiation does not mean that other people will be comfortable with it or that law enforcement will agree with you. Err on the side of caution and don't put yourself at risk unnecessarily. And above all, beware career limiting moves.

Kukri Safety

Remember: Safety third! Kukri are very sharp and dangerous blades designed for hacking through trees and limbs with equal ease. Never use a Kukri when you are tired, intoxicated or unfocused. Read the kukri safety guide.

Carrying A Kukri On A Secondary Belt

Kukris are long fixed blades and a secondary belt is the recommended way to carry it opposite your drawing hand. A secondary belt is best because it allows you to easily remove the kukri and other secondary gear when it is inconvenient or innaproriate such as when sleeping or entering a knife-free zone. You can store the kukri on the belt so that it is ready to belt on when you need it.

Throwing Kukris

Kukris can be thrown, though it is uncommon and throwing a kukri without having a backup is just throwing your weapon away.

"God help the Germans against them. We cannot hold them back. Brigade them along with us Highlanders - anybody in kilts - and they fight like demons. The difficulty is to get them to retire. Hundreds of them remain behind squatted on the ground with the kukris or Indian knives ready. As the Germans come on they throw the kukris at the advancing enemy, and as soon as they hit them, pull them back with the strings attached to them. Then they dash up fearlessly and account for many more."

—http://www.greatwardifferent.com/Great_War/British_Front/Indians_01.htm

Kukri Fighting

There are a number of martial arts schools that teach kukri fighting.

http://www.toratoratora.co.uk/

Cold Steel

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Runescape

"Of course, firemaking is a straightforward and easy skill to work on, but you will most likely need some practice when you first start out. There are a few essential items that you should also obtain before you begin."

"Are you the type that's always on the run? Do you feel the need to eat a snack wherever you're going? If so, the Rotisserie Cooking Spit is just for you! With this nifty invention (which can be Smithed), you can set up your own rotating roaster (over a fire) and cook either Chompy Bird Meat or Rabbit Meat. Simply use the meat with the spit, light a fire, and then used the skewered meat with the fire. Voila - one meal to go!"

—Sal's Realm of Runescape on Firemaking