Friday, August 15, 2014

5 Must-Haves for Long-Term Wilderness Survival

So it’s the end of the world as we know it, and you must pack up all you own and flee into the wilderness to escape the shambling hoards of slavering undead and roaming bands of raiders—or, maybe you are just going on an extended camping trip. Either way, you aren’t alone in your desire to get away. The Outdoor Foundation reports that about 38 million Americans traveled more than 200 miles to spend time camping in 2012. Whether it’s the apocalypse or a long camping trip, even the most serious outdoorsman can overlook several key items for extended survival in the wild. When planning your long-term escape, don’t forget these five things:


Top-Quality Shoes


A good pair of survival shoes are comfortable but sturdy enough to survive constant abuse, and should be slip and tear resistant. You need a pair with thick soles (so they aren’t easily punctured) and a waterproof but breathable material such as Gore-Tex. Hiking boots are strong contenders, and boots like the La Sportiva Omerga GTX by Gore-Tex provide durable comfort meant to last. Steel-toed work boots might sound like the best choice for kicking your way through a horde of zombies, but the truth is, you’ll likely spend more time scrambling through rough terrain than fighting.


Ferrocerium Rod


The ability to make fire is essential. While lighters and matches are popular choices, both have their drawbacks. Matches have to be carefully stored or they become useless, and lighters rely on fuel that may be difficult to find in a survival scenario. Ferrocerium rods, often simply called firesteels or ferro rods, are compact and reliable, and they operate without any fuel or chemical reaction that can be damaged by exposure to the elements. A good stock of firesteel from a seller like Firesteel.com can help create life-sustaining fire for years to come.


Generator


If you’re looking to create a home in the wilderness for a long time, a generator is a must. Capable of running everything from electric stoves and water heaters to lights and more, a generator can last for years and provide you and your family with long-term survival options (as well as modern conveniences). Companies like Sunbelt Rentals offer a wide selection of generators in various sizes ranging from portable 2.5kw generators to massive 500kw generators. Get familiar with your electricity needs now and plan for the future.


Ham Radio


Chances are that after any major disaster, most forms of communication we take for granted will be inoperable. Cell towers, land lines and the Internet will likely be unreliable if even available in most survival scenarios. Ham radio, however, has tremendous operating range, is well-organized, reliable, fairly cheap and easy to learn. In a survival scenario, a ham radio antenna made of wires can be easily concealed. For those inexperienced or just entering into the world of ham radio, a starter kit like the one available from BTWR Industries is a great start.


Water Filtration


Gravity filters make excellent options for camping and outdoor survival, but halogen-based filtration is the best for cleaning large amounts of water at a time. Remember that most filters can’t kill viruses in water, so it is important to bring along iodine, a UV light generator or chlorine dioxide tablets to ensure your water is free of protozoa, bacteria, and viruses.






via ModernSurvivalOnline.com http://ift.tt/1BlAKa5

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