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In this movie, a post-apocalyptic America is struggling to rebuild after a devastating war. A lone traveler finds his way to the small town of Cheyenne and begins to offer hope to the people there by delivering mail. At first, the townsfolk are hesitant to trust him, but he slowly wins them over with his charm and dedication.
This movie is a great survival lesson for preppers because it shows how important community is in times of crisis. The people of Cheyenne come together to help each other in order to survive, and the traveler learns that he can’t do it all alone.
This is a valuable lesson for preppers because it reminds us that we need to build strong relationships with like-minded people who can help us when times get tough.
Be warned, spoilers to follow if you have not seen it!
Plot Synopsis
In 2013, a nomad from Utah’s flatlands debuted his skills on the Shakespearean stage for food and water in order to survive. The nomad is forced into the Holnists, the area’s major neo-fascist militia, with their logo branded on his shoulder.
General Bethlehem leads the de facto authority in the region, collecting taxes and recruits from local settlements. When the nomadic actor escapes, he hides in a long-abandoned postman’s mail vehicle.
He shows up in Pineview wearing a postal worker’s uniform and mail bag, claiming to be from the recently resurrected United States government. He convinces the town sheriff Briscoe by displaying a letter addressed to elderly villager Irene March.
The Postman sets Ford Lincoln Mercury aspires to become a postman. The Postman also encounters Abby and Michael, who desire him to make her pregnant after fulfilling their clinical request. After the Postman departs for Benning, he carries away a stack of mail left on the townspeople’s doorstep at the post office.
During a search of Pineview, General Bethlehem learns about the Postman’s stories of a resurrected government and becomes concerned about losing control if word gets out. He destroys the American flag and post office, kills Michael, captures Abby, then assaults Benning.
The Postman surrenders and is spared from execution by Abby; the two flee into the surrounding mountains on horseback. In an abandoned cabin, Abby is pregnant with her first child while the injured Postman recuperates.
They travel across the range when spring arrives, encountering a young woman who claims to be a postal carrier. She explains that Ford Lincoln Mercury built a mail service on the basis of the Postman’s tale. They’ve established connections with other communities, inadvertently creating a kind-of society and spreading optimism.
Meanwhile, Bethlehem is still fighting to repress the postal carriers, who are mostly teenagers opposed by a more powerful foe. In response to mounting losses, the Postman orders everyone to disband and prepares a surrender missive addressed to Bethlehem.
However, Bethlehem is shocked when his men capture a carrier from California and learns that the Postman’s example has gone farther than he had anticipated.
The Postman and Abby, followed by three young carriers Eddie, Ponytail, and Billy, journey to Bridge City. The scouts of Bethlehem catch up with the mayor, who assists the Postman in fleeing on a cable car in order to enlist volunteers for an army of carriers. He and Abby express their sentiments before departing and fall in love.
The Postman, in a recitation of King Henry V’s speech prior to the Siege of Harfleur, urges his men and himself to battle.
The Holnists meet across a field, with Carriers and Holnists facing off. Knowing that if the armies met in combat, their casualties would be severe, the Postman challenges Bethlehem for leadership while their troops are witnesses.
The Postman wins the fight but spares Bethlehem’s life in a magnanimous display of mercy. Bethlehem attempts to shoot the Postman, but he is shot by Colonel Getty, Bethlehem’s executive officer. Getty then gives up his weapons and accepts arrest, allowing the Holnists to do the same.
The Postman’s grown daughter, accompanied by other notable individuals and troops including postal workers, gives a speech at the unveiling of a bronze statue in St. Rose, Oregon, in memory of her father, who perished in 2043.
Her remarks, as well as contemporary clothing and technology, suggest that the Postman and his mail carriers’ efforts helped to rebuild the United States.
Critical Reception
The Postman was generally panned by movie critics. Rotten Tomatoes has a 22% rating, based on 36 reviews. The consensus reads: ” pompous and long-winded, The Postman is redeemed only by its impressive production values.” However, the movie was nominated for three Academy Awards, winning Best Original Score. The Postman also won a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score.
Despite its poor reception, The Postman is considered to be a cult classic by some and has developed a small but passionate following. People who enjoy post-apocalyptic stories or movies with strong survivalist themes are more likely to appreciate The Postman. And while the film may not be historically significant, it offers an entertaining glimpse into what life might be like after a major societal collapse.
Lessons for Preppers
A prepper can never have too many skills, or know when they might be useful. Costner’s postman in the movie is a perfect example of someone who is able to both use and adapt his knowledge and skills to not only survive, but to thrive in a post-apocalyptic world. For instance, dramatic acting and knowledge of literature allowed him to deliver inspiring oratory to inspire his troops and hold them together in the face of a terrible fate.
Having a positive attitude can be just as important as having supplies and abilities. Survival is a mental game. The postman was able to inspire hope in those he met, which helped them to build a new society.
It is important to be able to work with others, even if they are not like you. The postman was able to form alliances and work with people from all walks of life, which ultimately led to the success of his mission.
Preppers should never give up hope. No matter how bleak things seem, there is always a chance for redemption and rebuilding. The postman was able to not only survive, but rebuild something that was utterly destroyed.
Even in the darkest of times, there is always room for kindness and compassion. The postman showed mercy to his enemies, which ultimately led to peace. What may seem like a small act of kindness can have a ripple effect that changes your situation and even the world.
Preppers should always be prepared to adapt and change as the situation demands. The postman had to change his plans multiple times in order to survive, and change gears after unforeseen and devastating setbacks to ultimately succeed.
Preppers should never underestimate the importance of communication. The postman was able to succeed because he was able to communicate with those around him, both verbally and through the mail. Even archaic forms of communication may prove vital for coordination in long term survival situations!
A prepper should always be prepared for the unexpected. The postman never knew what he would find when he arrived in a new town or what challenges he would face along the way.
It’s important to maintain relationships with others, even in difficult times. The postman was able to build a network of postal workers only because he cultivated the right relationships.
These are just a few of the lessons that preppers can learn from The Postman.
Will You Watch it Tonight?
What did you think of The Postman? If you watched it, is it worth checking out? What other lessons do you think are important? Let us know in the comments below! And be sure to check out our other Netflix Prepper Picks. Until next time, happy prepping!
A backpack is incredibly important, they store and protect our gear from the weather and the eyes of others. They also organize our gear.
a green bug out bag
For preppers, two backpack designs are useful: The Hiking Backpack and the Tactical Backpack. Both are different and come at different prices.
They work differently from each other and depending on the needs of individual prepper, you might find one is better than the other.
For someone looking for a quick bug-out bag, a hiking backpack might be a good choice, as it will carry a sleeping bag, waterproofs, spare clothes and boots and supplies.
For someone looking to carry more or wants the option to change the pouches to suit a particular need, or just remove them to make a day bag, then a MOLLE bag would be a good idea.
What To Look For When Buying a Backpack
When buying a bag, for any reason, especially as a bug-out or an EDC bag then you need to know the bag is going to be reliable, so the material and brand are important, as is the number of pockets/compartments the backpack has, the band can indicate reliability, but also the material can.
There are two main backpacks I would look at when picking one for a bug-out: a hiking backpack or a tactical backpack, depending on the budget.
Tactical backpacks have special straps for MOLLE (Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment) pouches or other attachments that you will not find on traditional hiking backpacks.
Waterproof or Water-Resistant?
One of the best waterproof materials to look out for is Oxford Cloth which comes in 600D or better, as this will help keep your gear dry, you can use dry bags and waterproof covers as this will double the waterproofing and help organize, being waterproof will help you if you need to cross a body of water.
Stitching, Zips and Buckles
You need to know the stitching is done properly everywhere as this will ensure your bag will resist water, and it will stay strong for a long time.
If the stitching is poorly done or parts are missed it will cause a malfunction and that is no good for a bag you need to keep your gear in.
The stitching needs to be done at the seams and where the buckles are attached to the bag as well as stitched at the adjustment strap, this is usually folded on itself and stitched to stop it from coming out of the buckle.
One of the best and respected zips is YKK and those should be the zips you should look out for to ensure quality and long life, other brands or no brand zips might not last as long or easily malfunction.
This is no good for a bag you need to last years to hold everything you need to survive.
Buckles are important, if these are of poor quality they will easily break. Some of the best buckles are YKK.
Shoulder Straps
Shoulder straps are something you also need to take care of when picking as you could be wearing your backpack all day and when you carry a heavy backpack it needs to be comfortable or you will not want to carry it as it causes you pain and injury.
The Best Survival Backpacks List
Loowoko Hiking Backpack
Pros
50 Litre Capacity
Breathable Back Support
“S-type” Shoulder Straps
Rip-stop Waterproof Polyester.
Rain Cover Included
Cons
A mat or sleeping bag on the side straps will stop the use of the mesh pocket
The 5L pouch takes up the room from the main compartment
The pack can be top-heavy
Will not stand on its own
No internal frame for a lighter backpack
The pack comes in many colors, the one linked to is green.
The way the straps are designed feels like they will help the wearer support the pack when walking long distances and will keep the wearer from having an uncomfortable back. However, the waist strap looks uncomfortable.
The mesh pocket is unusable when using the side straps
Not a lot of straps
This pack looks more like a day bag you can use for work. It does look stylish and I would use it, I just would not feel comfortable using it for a bug-out bag, but others might, what I do not like is the bright pack cover. You can get it here.
SUGOIDAN Hiking Backpack
Pros
60 Litre Capacity
Looped Zips
Waterproof Nylon
Multiple Compartments (Large and Small)
Padded Shoulder Straps
Breathable Back Support
Built-in Survival Whistle
Cons
Zips can get derailed and break easily
Uncomfortable on the shoulders if full
The material is not sturdy
Mesh pockets become unusable when using the side straps
The pack is stylish and looks like a nice bug-out bag, however, the waist belt looks tiny and thin, something I would not want in a bug-out bag. You can get it here.
Bseach Free Knight Hiking
Pros
60 Liter Capacity
Includes Rain Cover
Padded Shoulder Straps
Multiple Compartments
Padded Back Mesh
Zipper Pullers
D Rings
Emergency Whistle
Hydration Bladder Compatible
Cons
Poor quality zippers
The straps can break
Low-quality stitching
Straps will loosen
The pack looks stylish and functional. The waist belt looks thick and has pockets for a smartphone or some kind of currency. As long as the pack is in a functional order it should serve as a good bug-out bag. You can get it here.
MountainTop Hiking
Pros
40 Litre Capacity
YKK Zippers
Rain Cover Included
Water Resistant Polyester
YYK Buckles
Padded Straps
Top, Bottom and Side Straps
Cons
Mesh pocket is unusable when using the side straps
Straps might be close together for some people
No inside pockets to organise gear
Bright yellow rain cover
This is a nice looking pack. Everything will have a place and the waist belt looks thick and strong.
The rain cover is bright yellow, great for hiking, but needs replacing for a darker rain cover. You can get it here.
Beseach Framed Hiking
Pros
Framed
Water-resistant Polyester and Nylon Material
Rain Cover Included
Many Compartments
Separate Shoe Compartment
Cons
Poor stitching quality
Shoulder straps might be too close for some people
Cheap elastic
Poor quality zippers
Side mesh pockets are useless when using the side straps
Poor quality stitching
The pack looks good, it’s framed to help support the wearer, which is good. The waist belt looks supportive and has zipped pockets.
The rain cover is orange. So would need replacing for a darker color. You can get it here.
INOXTO Hiking Backpack
Pros
40 Litre Capacity
600D Ripstop Material
Multiple Compartments
Loops On The Main Body
Bottom Straps
Rain Cover
Cons
Zips not YKK
Straps might be too close for some people
The pack is stylish and functional. The waist belt looks thick and comes with pockets. It comes with loops that you can clip cups and other stuff to.
The rain cover is black, which is great for a bug-out bag. You can get it here.
Kerxinma Hiking
Pros
60 Litre Capacity
Separate Shoe Compartment
Multiple Compartments
Water-Resistant Nylon
Cover Included
Cons
Might not suit tall people
Zips not YKK
Water bottle pockets are useless when using the side straps
The pack is minimalist but looks good and all your large gear, like a sleeping bag, can be attached to the pack. The cover is black. You can get it here.
FLYKEPER MOLLE
Pros
MOLLE straps on the main body only
75 Litre capacity
Lots of compartments
600D Oxford cloth used
Breathable shoulder straps
Light and strong design
Cons
Thin buckles for the job
The seems can tear easily
The side pockets become unusable if the main compartment is full
The pack looks good in any color. Your gear can be stored how you like within and without the bag. The addition of MOLLE will allow the user to attack smaller packs, like a first aid MOLLE. You can get it here.
TianYaOutdoors Molle
Pros
MOLLE on the main body only
Personalisable patch velcro
70 Litre Capacity
D Loops for carabiners
Survival Whistle Buckle
900D Oxford Cloth
Multiple compartments
Cons
Low-quality zips
Can come unsewn in a few places
Molle straps are useless
Straps will break
It might not last a month of little use
The pack looks nice in any color option. The MOLLE looks like it limits the user with what you can attach, however, as long as you pack the backpack correctly to your needs it should be a good bug-out bag. You can get it here.
HUNTVP MOLLE
Pros
55 Litre Capacity
MOLLE on each side, the main compartment covers the main body.
Multiple compartments
Waterproof Nylon
Padded back and shoulder straps
Lightweight
Draw close seal for the main compartment
D Rings for clips
Bag Straps on the main compartment cover and bottom of the bag
Cons
The adjustment straps will come undone
Smaller than advertised
Straps might not feel padded for some users
Short Belly strap for some users
The pack looks stylish and functional. There are three MOLLE areas: the front small compartment and both left and right bottle covers. The pack looks comfortable to wear all day. You can get it here.
5.11 Tactical RUSH72
Pros
Straps for MOLLE attachments or clips
Patch Velcro
Bottom Straps
58 Liter Capacity
Hydration pocket
Large Waist Pockets On the Waist Straps
Cons
Stitching could be low quality
Not YYK zips
This is a really popular backpack and for good reason, the waist belt had two fairly large pockets, there is MOLLE in three places: the face of the pack as well as the left and right compartments.
You have to learn to pack the backpack, however, there are enough straps, compartments and MOLLE to hold what you need. You can get it here.
WintMing MOLLE
Pros
70 Liter Capacity
Multiple Sections
Patch Velcro
Double Layer 600D Oxford Material
Breathable and Padded Straps
D Rings
Survival Whistle Chest Buckle
Reinforced Stitching
Cons
Straps might be close to the neck for some
Stitching quality might be poor
Clips are poor quality
Zipps are not YKK
The pack looks stylish and comes in many colours. You can attach a velcro patch to the bag to make it yours.
The pack has a large MOLLE on the face that will hold clips or MOLLE attachments. The waist belt looks uncomfortable to wear for a long time. You can get it here.
HongXingHai MOLLE
Pros
100 Liter Capacity
Removable Waist Bag
600D Oxford Cloth
Multiple Compartments
Cons
Buckles can be poor quality
Zipps are not YKK
This is a really good pack. There are two MOLLE areas and one is taken up by the day pack, the other is split into two to maximize the extra MOLLE packs or clips. The waist belt looks comfortable. You can get it here.
FLYKEEPER MOLLE
Pros
75 Litre Capacity
600D Oxford Material
Many Compartments
D Rings
Cons
It might come with poor quality stitching
It might come with poor quality buckles
This is a nice looking pack. Two small sets of MOLLE allow either small MOLLE packs or clips or a few larger MOLLE packs. The waist belt looks comfortable.
You can also personalize the pack with a velcro patch. You can get it here.
EMDMAK 3 Day MOLLE
Pros
42 Liter Capacity
Lots of Compartments
Lots of MOLLE Straps
D Ring
Free Water Bottle MOLLE Pouch
Free 4x D Clips
Free D Clip Paracord Key Loop
Breathable Back Panel
Adjustable Shoulder Straps
Velcro for Patches
Cons
Can feel cheap
Not YKK zip system
This has to be one of the best on this list. This is a backpack with MOLLE all over it: front two sections and the sides. The waist belt is thick and comes with small sections.
The pack might be small, however, the MOLLE will help by allowing you to attach extra sections, the bonus of this pack is it comes with extras. You can get it here.
Which One Is Right for You?
Each rucksack has pros and cons, you have to look at one that suits you better, you have to try a lot to find the one that is right for you.
If I had to make a bug-out bag for someone with $50 as my budget then I would most likely go with the EMDMAK 3 day MOLLE backpack as there are MOLLE straps everywhere which is useful for MOLLE pouches that contain a first aid kit or an emergency survival kit.
If you want reliability and something that is well made then you should do what I did which was get an ex-military bergen.
Mine is Ex-British Bergan which when the side pouches are attached come to 120 liters. The side pouches will also make two small 10 liter bags for a webbing harness that you can use for a day expedition.
What I like about the bergan is when the main bag is complete and used as a rucksack the cover for the main compartment has a pocket for waterproofs leaving the other compartments free for important gear.
Hardly anyone that has any amount of prepping experience needs to be told now how important water is in a survival situation. Water is absolutely critical to survival, and a few days without enough water can easily kill or incapacitate. This is one of those survival necessities that just won’t wait.
However, the need for water is easily understood but the logistics of acquiring and storing emergency water during a short or long-term SHTF scenario are another thing entirely.
Sure, it is easy to say that one should simply stock up on bottled water or purified water by the gallon, but that doesn’t cover all of our bases.
A well-rounded water procurement plan is an essential component for any properly developed SHTF response.
In order to help you gather from emergency water sources we are bringing you a list of 10 proven methods that you can employ pretty much anywhere that water can be found in order to supplement your own stocks.
Bottled Water Isn’t Enough
I must impress upon you that having a stash of bottled water, no matter how big, is just not enough.
Why preppers fall into the trap of believing that purchased, purified water can solve all of their logistical needs when it comes to H2O, I can’t say.
Maybe they’d rather throw money at a problem instead of developing skills, or they feel like they are just not up to the task.
This is understandable, but misguided. That bottled water will eventually run out, and is likely to run out a lot quicker than you are counting on.
When you consider that you’ll need water not just for drinking, but also some for cooking and then more for hygiene even the largest stockpile of the prepackaged stuff can evaporate faster than you’d like.
The solution, of course, is to make use of renewable or incidental sources of water to supplement or replace your supply of bottled water.
Going all in on one without the other is like knowing how to drive a car without knowing how to change a tire. It is a fundamental vulnerability that will, absolutely will, bite you in the rear given time.
Don’t let that happen to you. The following methods will arm you with everything you need to ensure your own supply of water stays intact.
10 Methods for Gathering Emergency Water
Buckets and Other Containers
Buckets and other containers are one of the best tried and true methods for gathering emergency water, particularly when you have short notice, a quickly developing situation and imminent or ongoing rainfall.
All you need to do is place your buckets and any other container that is reasonably clean outside with a clear view of open sky and they will gather nominally clean and drinkable water with no extra input on your part.
Now, the logistics of this can get tricky depending on your situation. Obviously if you have more containers you have a greater capacity and a greater surface area for catching what rain does fall.
But you’ll have to move those containers and either bring them inside or empty them into a centralized storage vessel for holding and dispensing the water later.
In a pinch, you can leave the water in those containers and cover it to keep bugs, dust and other debris out.
One of the best and cheapest, adaptable rain catching plans is a little more than a collection of 5 gallon buckets with heavy, gasket sealing lids put away for a literal rainy day.
They hold plenty of water and are reasonably easy to move even when full, and plenty durable enough for the job. However, there are ways to improve this basic method, and we’ll get into that below.
Umbrella
In a literal and figurative inversion of what you typically employ an umbrella for, umbrellas make handy and enhancements for gathering rainwater using the bucket and container method described above.
All you need to do is open the umbrella and invert it before placing it atop the bucket to rest:
An upside down umbrella in rain to collect rainwater.
In essence, this transforms the umbrella into a larger surface area it can gather more water per hour and also directs it into your container a lot like a funnel.
Depending on the design of your umbrella you might need to poke a hole at the top where the stem joins the center of the canopy in order to allow the rain water to drain effectively into your container.
Note that you don’t need a particularly high quality umbrella in order to implement this technique.
You might want to gather a few cheapy department store or dollar store umbrellas to go along with your buckets as discussed above for a dirt cheap and highly effective rain catching system.
Whole House Rain Catcher System
Probably the Cadillac of emergency water collection systems, a whole house rain catching system is one that is built into the gutters of a home or other structure.
By utilizing the enormous surface area of the roof and the efficient direction and collection system of gutters and downspouts, enormous quantities of rainwater can be collected in a very short duration and then routed into a variety of storage solutions.
One of the most common collection vessels is a simple rain barrel but above or below ground tanks, sometimes connected in series to prevent overflow and provide the maximum amount of water captured are also popular.
These systems also often make use of diverters and other specialty hardware for directing the water to where it needs to go, according to the mandates of the gravity fed system, of course!
Probably the best part of these systems for our purposes is that they require no major interaction on the part of the homeowner once they are installed and set up correctly.
These are also entirely within the realm of a weekend or week-long DIY job for those who are interested, and rudimentary versions can be done in as little as a couple of hours assuming you have the container and a few other parts on hand.
Improvised Rain Catcher
For some folks, buckets and other containers are going to be inefficient but a whole house rain catcher system is either not viable financially or for other reasons. When it maximum return on investment must be obtained, an improvised rain catching system is called for.
These systems take many forms, but most of them rely on the use of heavy duty plastic sheeting and some other extra large container for water storage, anything from a clean or cleaned trough to a repurposed kiddie pool or something else.
By hanging up the plastic using any convenient object or erecting a simple scaffold an extra large surface area can be crafted to rapidly and efficiently direct rainfall.
Even a wide, low-lying area that is only a few inches deep can hold a vast, meaningful amount of rainfall if care is given to properly setting up and securing the edges of the plastic wrap.
This is another highly adaptable and affordable rain catching setup that can be employed almost anywhere to good effect and is an indispensable part of your prepping toolbox.
Melt Ice or Snow
for those who live in colder climates where it rarely if ever rains, or during the cold months, melting ice and snow is a viable method for gathering water suitable for drinking and cooking that might need minimal filtration, if any.
to accomplish this, it might be as simple as gathering the ice or snow in containers as above and bring it inside to melt, or speeding up the process by placing it near a fire or some other heating appliance.
Whatever the case, if the snow or ice is collected directly from the sky it is more or less safe to drink immediately, but if you gather it from the ground or some other surface you might need to filter it the same as anything else.
It should go without saying that collecting snow or ice that is obviously discolored, dirty, slushy or formed on a dirty surface means it is going to be more contaminated then the pure white stuff.
Nonetheless, this might be the primary means of gathering emergency water in many of the colder climates around the world.
Collect from River, Lake, Stream, etc.
One of the tried and true methods for gathering emergency water is simply to go collect it from a nearby river, lake, stream, pond or other large body of water, potentially even including man-made sources like pools.
You can collect this water however you will, either using buckets and other containers or directly filling your personal hydration vessels as you would during any other movement or exercise in the field.
However, compared to collecting rainwater, drawing water from natural ground sources, even those that appear fresh and sparkling clean, means you’re going to have to filter the water to remove contaminants, both dissolved solids and harmful microbes.
Failure to do this means you’ll be running a fairly substantial risk of contracting a nasty stomach bug that could see you curled up and leaking from both ends if you catch my drift.
Dehydration and electrolyte loss can prove to be the final nail in the coffin in this case if it occurs during a time sensitive life or death situation.
For fathering water from low-lying or otherwise difficult to access natural sources consider using a siphon or hand pump and transferring it into a larger container
Drain the Water Heater
Believe it or not, you might not even have to leave your home to access a usable reserve of emergency water.
Any home that has a hot water heater has dozens of gallons on tap, literally, and with a little bit of ingenuity and know how you can access this water for drinking and other tasks.
All you need to do to drain the water from your water heater is to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for doing so, typically consisting of opening a valve or vent near the top and then draining the contents of the water heater through a spigot near the bottom.
Note that many water heaters have standard, threaded hookups for hoses that may well provide you better control and direction for this water.
Trust me; you don’t want to flood your house in the process as you already have enough to deal with if you are doing this!
Now, it is worth noting that this water is the same as the water that comes out of your tap for all intents and purposes, but the inside of the water heater can be rusty or heavily contaminated with mineral buildup, potentially giving the water an off taste. That being said, you can do a heck of a lot worse than this for emergency drinking water.
Fill a Bathtub Basin
One of the best ways to quickly gather emergency drinking water, particularly immediately prior to the onset of an event or in the immediate aftermath of one where our water supply systems have not been compromised is through the use of a bathtub basin bag.
These ingenious devices are a great option for preppers, and consist of a large and heavy duty mylar or rubber bag that stows into a compact, folded form until it is needed.
Once you open it and deploy it in your tub a large and easy to fill neck can be placed under the faucet in your tub before opening the tap.
And as little time as it takes you to fill up your bathtub you can have dozens of gallons of fresh water in a clean and sealed container ready to use for all sorts of things.
These are a particularly good option for people who live in apartments or other build up areas since reliably setting up a rain catching system might be difficult or impossible under the circumstances.
A bathtub basin obviously precludes you from using your tub for other things while it is full, but this is a small price to pay for sizable, on demand water storage.
Check Pipes and Hoses
Another great option for urban and suburban preppers who need to gather emergency fresh water is to check for existing water in pipes and hoses around your home and potentially others.
Just because you turn off a tap and water stops flowing does not mean that there is no water remaining in the pipe or hose connected to the faucet.
A clever prepper can take advantage of some simple principles to access this water, and though it might not seem like much under the circumstances when it is repeated a handful of times you can collect a fairly sizable quantity quickly and reliably, and better yet, it will be far safer and ready to drink than most other natural sources.
To access water trapped in a hose, all one has to do is disconnect the hose and then it carefully unravel it with one open end placed in a bucket or other container. An end over end motion ensures that water will drain towards the lowest point in the hose. Accessing water trapped in household and other building pipes is somewhat more involved but still simple.
First, open the uppermost faucets and taps in the structure as this will allow air into the system, somewhat pressurizing the water that resides lower in the building and it trapped in the pipes.
Then, head to the lowest faucets in the structure and position your container beneath ready to receive. Open the taps and you should have a small stream of water come out, even if the building has lost water supply.
Use a Solar Still
A solar still is an ingenious method of gathering incredibly pure water, but it comes at the price of low yield and a long operating time to produce anything more than a sip.
A solar still works by placing a transparent covering, typically plastic, over a shallow depression dug in the soil. The plastic is sealed around its edges by a line of stones or by covering them with loose earth.
Beneath the plastic a cup or other small container should be placed in the middle of the depression beneath the center of the plastic, the ladder being weighed down with a small pebble or other weight.
As the sun illuminates the solar still, moisture in the soil converts to steam before condensing on the underside of the plastic, running down to the depressed center and then dripping into the cup.
Water collected in this way, assuming the container is clean, is incredibly pure and safe to drink immediately, something that few other collection methodologies can boast.
This method lends itself to small and large-scale operation, and is even easy enough to improvise while in the field, though as mentioned you’ll have to give it plenty of time to work or set up multiple stills if you want to generate water quickly.
Ready to Practice Water Collection?
Water is an undeniably essential survival prep, but chances are you won’t be able to depend on your bottled water supply alone, especially during a long-term survival scenario.
Knowing where you can get alternate sources of water, and how to gather and store them, is an important skill set for all preppers.
Review the list of procedures above and you’ll be ready for beefing up your hydration logistics chain when things get bad.
So we know how a bug-out bag can be important, they can save lives. But what makes them so important? The answer is what goes in them.
From waterproofs to food, water and other items those are the items that are important. We have to pick each item carefully and this list is no exception.
So today we will be looking at what you can buy for your hard-earned $500. Yes, you will get more gear for $500 and some of that at a better quality than in the previous articles.
The better the gear, the better your chances of survival. You do not need your cheap crowbar snapping when you have rarely used it and when you need it the most, like opening a nailed shut crate of MRE rations.
It would be disheartening to hear that snapping and floor hitting ping after using the last of your energy to find and try to open the crate.
So spending more on a dropped forged crowbar or just a better forged crowbar, for example, will aid in your survival for a long time, maybe for the length of your survival.
Rucksack
OUTLIFE Hiking Backpack ($39.95)
I chose this rucksack for many reasons:
Drawstring seal of the main compartment
Side Mesh Pocket
Front Pocket
65L capacity
Waist Pocket (Small Items)
Bottom Pouch with clips for a sleeping bag
Ergonomic back design to protect your back from the pressure that is also breathable
Chest buckle whistle
Side Straps
I also chose this rucksack because it has room and that is important, you can not prepare well if you do not have the room to do so.
Verifygear 216 piece Survival Kit ($28.04)
First Aid Kit
Survival Bracelet
12-in-1 Saber Card
3-in-1 Tactical Knife
Flashlight/Torch
Glowsticks
Fishing Kit
8-in-1 utensils
Wire Saw
Paracord Rope
Carabiner
2 x Screwdrivers
Water Bottle Holder
Thermal Blanket
This kit will ensure you can survive and thrive no matter what happens. You can carve wooden spears, fish and much more.
I am also going to throw in a multi-tool shovel.
Antarctica Multifunction Shovel ($59.99):
Shaft
Axe Head
Shovel Head
Small First Aid Kit
Multiple Screwdriver Attachments
This multitool shovel will allow you to do more than dig a hole The axe head will allow you to chop wood for a fire. The screwdriver attachments will allow you to maintain anything with screws.
Poncho
AGPTEK Waterproof Poncho ($19.99 black or blue)
This poncho will keep you dry, especially when you pull the neck string close around your face. The peak will also keep rain from coming down on your face.
Cuffs and velcro closing to make you even more waterproof. The extra room will allow you to cover your rucksack as well.
Eyelets or Grommets to create a shelter or a way to collect rainwater when shaped to guide running rainwater into a container, like your bottle.
This is a good poncho that you can store in the front compartment in its storage bag.
Water
SHARLOVY Water Bottle ($10.49)
This is a good water bottle as it marks off how much you should drink throughout the day. The bonus is it comes with a strap.
Sawyer Mini Personal Water Filter (4 pack $24.99)
Each straw will purify water up to 100,000 gallons or 378 541 liters. That should be more than enough to last you and your family.
Coghlan’s Water Tablets ($8.95 for 50 tablets)
This will ensure that you have water when the straws are used up.
Food
British 24 hour Army Ration Pack ($65.00 per one box, many menus to pick from)
The basic British Army Ration Pack consists of:
Tea
Coffee
Hot Sauce
Tissues
Spork
Sugar
Energy Drink
Biscuits
Peanuts
Powdered Drink
Everything will fit in this rucksack when taken out of the boxes, however, you can store the snack items and tissues in your pockets when you take a break.
Some menus have vegan and vegetarian options to pick from and that changes the meal packs you get.
Cooking
Hauunwey 5 Pcs Camping Cookware Mess Kit ($14.99)
1x knife, fork and spoon set
one large boiling pan
one medium boiling pan
one frying pan
This kit will cook on anything, on an open fire you will need a grill like structure. This item stores in the large pot and that into a bag which will sit nicely in your rucksack. Each piece of the kit is built to last.
Outset 76356 Collapsible Camping Grill ($19.35)
The item, when taken out of the bag will assemble within 15 seconds, just unfold to open and stick on the grill and this will use wood or coal to create a fire, the stay cool handle will reduce burning.
Windproof and Waterproof Lighter ($8.99 Black)
This item is a must to have in one the small pockets of your rucksack this will help you light a fire in the rain or heavy wind.
Neon 11x Universal Lighter Fluid (12 cans $39.99)
Yes there are twelve cans, but each one is valuable to you to help make fire. If you can not stay warm then you will not survive. You should have room for each fuel can.
Part hammer with chisel and part pry bar this is one heck of a tool to have on you. This item will smash and pull apart anything, so yes, this will make a great close-combat weapon as well if needed.
Hygiene and Dry Bags
6 pack dry bag set ($13.99)
These bags are great to keep all your preps and secondary clothing dry even across a body of water.
The Nobleman charcoal wipes (120 wipes for $9.65)
A clean survivor is a happy survivor. Washing has a potential to change our mood, so keeping clean when you can is a must. The charcoal will help get you a better clean.
Each wipe is packed with charcoal, aloe vera and chamomile for a great refreshing clean. Each one is also hypo-allergetic and Ph balanced.
Clean Life No Rinse Shampoo ($5.99)
You do not need dirty hair when trying to survive and the less water you use the better. Ph balanced to be kind to your skin.
Trident Hand Towel (4 pack, Silver, $19.99)
You need to dry the hair when you use the no rise shampoo, these will do the job well.
Communications, Power and Other Additions
FosPower NOAA Emergency Weather Radio (Model D4, $34.90)
A radio is a must for one way communications, like government broadcasts or broadcasts from other survivors.
This comes with dynamo and solar charging for better chances of keeping your electronics powered, plus it is a flashlight/torch.
Batteries and Safe Storage AAA Energizers Max ($16.78 a pack of 48)
These will keep your small torch/flashlight active for longer. Which is vital, yes we have other light options, but the battery flashlight/torch is stil a vital piece of equipment.
To keep your batteries safe and dry is important. This pack has a torch that needs batteries. If the batteries are useless that torch is, also they will make good trade items if needed.
Weepro Battery Tester ($5.49)
Carrying one is important and will check AA, AAA, C and D. You need to know the batteries you have or find still have power and how much, this is important.
Winter Knitted Warm Set Infinity Scarf and Hat Touch Screen Gloves ($13.99)
You need to keep warm and these will do it, the shemagh will also deal with weather other than rain or snow, also this will stop UV rays from touching your face.
Summing It All Up
$39.95 (Rucksack)
$28.04 (Survival kit)
$59.99 (Shovel)
$19.99 (Poncho)
$10.49 (Water Bottle)
$24.99 (Purification Straw)
$8.95 (Purification Tablets)
$65.00 (Ration Pack)
$14.99 (Mess Kit)
$19.99 (Grill)
$8.99 (Lighter)
$39.99 (Lighter Fuel)
$44.71 (Crowbar)
$13.99 (Dry Bags)
$9.65 (Wipes)
$34.90 (Radio)
$17.97 (Battery Storage)
$16.78 (AAA Batteries)
$5.49 (Battery Tester)
$13.99 (Winter gear)
We have a grand total of $498.55.
Final Thoughts
I would say a B.O.B is personal, and you need to decide what goes into one, everything you put into your B.O.B is specific to where you are and what you think you need, some might need items for bites, some might need other items.
You can make a bug out bag for $500 and it will keep you going for a long time. But if you don’t have this amount of money, know that you can assemble a BOB even with 100 dollars.
For a true, custom bug out bag you need to add to the bag over time, perhaps creating smaller budgets out of your final budget.
When camping in any remote area of wilderness, preppers are often advised to build a campfire not only to stay warm, but also to keep wild animals away. good advice, considering that many wild animals can be a nuisance at your campsite and some can be quite dangerous. but some reports abound of animals in remote places that show no fear of fire.
A fire started with Fresnel lens.
So, will a campfire keep wild animals away or not?
Possibly. Many animals show fear around fire, but certain species show absolutely no fear or recognition of fire as a danger.Under certain conditions animals may lose their fear offire or learn to associate it with humans and a positive outcome in the form of food.
A campfire is definitely an asset, but perhaps not the asset that people think it is when it comes to repelling animals of all sorts. any assertion that goes so far against our conventional wisdom when it comes to camping must be investigated, and that is what we will do in the remainder of this article.
Animals that a Fire May Keep Away
Animals that a Fire May Not Keep Away
☑ Coyotes
❌ Insects
☑ Ferral dogs
❌ Reptiles
☑ Rats
❌ Amphibians
☑ Skunks
❌ Bears
❌ Raccoons
What Kind of Animal is It?
When it comes to the likelihood of fire repelling an animal, we must first sort one animal from the other. Obviously, animals are not created equal, and differences in biology and behavior as well as reactions to various stimuli are as varied and numerous as grains of sand on the beach.
Accordingly, it pays to understand what kind of animals are in the biome you’ll be camping in, and among them which ones you really need to keep away from your camp. some animals are annoying, others are proper nuisances and some are downright dangerous.
You might be able to put up with annoying critters but if you are depending on your fire to keep dangerous wildlife, and it fails, you might be in for a rude awakening, literally!
Insects, Reptiles and Amphibians are Unlikely to be Repelled
When it comes to the smaller creatures in the woods, the desert or elsewhere in the world your fire is unlikely to have any effect on them when it comes to repulsion, and may indeed have the opposite effect!
Right up front, I am sorry to report that smoke from a campfire does nothing whatsoever to repel mosquitoes, and total defiance of old wives tales and prepper lore. it also doesn’t seem to confuse them in any meaningful way, as anyone who has spent time sitting in the smoke of a campfire trying desperately to keep from being eaten alive will tell you.
Other insects are attracted to light of all kinds, moths most infamously. but moths and many other insects will fly blithely right through the flames of your campfire and incinerate themselves without a second thought.
Unfortunately, most insects don’t seem to perceive fire as dangerous if they perceive it at all. Many are the tales of desert going campers who have awoken at night to find the area around their camp crawling with scorpions and other creatures eerily illuminated by the fire.
Similarly, most cold-blooded reptiles and amphibians don’t seem to recognize the danger that fire is or at least recognize it in time. plenty of anecdotal tales persist of frogs leaping directly into campfires, and it makes sense that snakes and lizards could potentially be attracted to a warmer area at night in order to thermoregulate their bodies.
But how about larger, furrier creatures?
Most Mammals Will Keep Away from Fire…
It seems that most mammalian life will in fact try to avoid a campfire. Certainly, mammals can detect heat and will perceive pain around a source of intense heat the same as we will.
It is also highly probable that any unusual presences or sights and sounds in their environment will give them pause or send them scurrying in the other direction.
This generally holds true for most medium-sized mammals and up, with larger mammals in particular seeming to be quite wary of fire. Thankfully, predators in particular seem to be quite disturbed by the presence of a fire.
…But Perhaps Not for the Reasons You Think!
However, it must be pointed out that it could not be a small campfire in and of itself that repels the animals that do seem to shy away from it, but instead the fact that the fire is illuminating or otherwise indicating the presence of humans at the campsite, and it is the presence of humans that repels the animals.
Now, before you dismiss this as six of one and a half dozen of the other, this could potentially make a big difference as to whether or not you decide to depend on a fire if you are retiring for the night inside a tent and otherwise out of sight or are sleeping in the open.
We all know by now that generally letting an animal know of your presence is the best way to avoid surprising it, particularly in the case of large and dangerous mammals, so this is not a net negative in any case but, as with all things, nuance is important when it comes to making fully informed decisions!
Small Mammals Don’t Seem to Fear Campfires That Much
On the other hand it seems, somewhat bizarrely, that fire is not much of a deterrent whatsoever to smaller mammals, particularly rodents.
Countless tales exist of campers being visited or even assailed by everything from squirrels to possums and raccoons at their campsite with a campfire blazing away.
In the case of more inquisitive creatures like squirrels and raccoons, there have been reports that they have merrily ransacked any treats they could get their clutching little paws on while the fire crackled along cheerily in the background.
This seems hard to believe, but the sheer quantity of such tales not to mention the substantiation of them seems difficult to ignore. if you are counting on your fire to keep away the banditry of the animal kingdom you’re probably going to be sorely disappointed.
It is Possible that a Campfire Could Attract Animals!
Lastly, it must be pointed out that conditions exist where your fire could have strictly the opposite intention across many different species. In areas where humans frequent the natural habitat of mammals, particularly large mammals like mountain lions, bears and so forth, there’s a growing body of evidence that suggests campfires may actually be attracting certain specimens.
This is because repeated interactions with humans and repeated foraging or investigation of a human frequented areas has served as positive reinforcement on account of the presence of food for animals inhabiting these regions.
For such animals, the calculus is simple. Approach humans or approach human habitation and get food, often in substantial quantity.
It stands to reason that there’s such animals quickly lose their fear of any fires at campsites and may certainly even associate such fires with reward in the form of food!
It goes without saying that this is an extremely dangerous condition for both the beast and humans, and you should never depend upon a campfire to repel animals in such places or to keep you safe.
If you are camping in a touristy hotspot or such large animals are common, double your caution while at camp, fire or not.
Bottom Line
It is generally accepted that a campfire will repel most mammals, but has little or no effect on insects, amphibians and reptiles. Larger mammals and in particular predators seem to be the most wary of fire in most circumstances, but larger mammals seem to be less deterred by one.
In some cases, animals have learned to associate the presence of a fire with humans, and have associated humans with food and so will seek out a campfire in the interests of being rewarded.
Ultimately, the decision of whether or not you should utilize a campfire is for other considerations such as light and warmth, and if it repels animals so much the better but you must not depend on it for protection or pest repellent.
Being prepared to face down the unexpected is paramount if you want to ensure that you and your family will persevere in the face of hard times.
A man in a white hazmat suit.
Disasters both natural and man-made can turn your life upside down, rob you of every possession and even kill you if you aren’t ready to face them, head-on, prepared with the right plans and gear.
Most people are ready to cope with a house fire, take shelter from a tornado and react to the seemingly sudden emergence of civil unrest but precious few people, even the most ardent preppers, are ready to deal with one of the most dangerous, subtle and unpredictable threats in the modern world: the threat posed by hazardous chemicals, biological agents and even radioactive material.
All these persistent hazards can kill you with ease or make you gravely sick if you are not outfitted with the correct protective gear. The only thing that can afford you any degree of defense against these hazards is a properly rated and properly worn hazmat suit.
This is one sector of a prepper’s education that is often sorely lacking, but we are here to correct that with our guide to understanding and selecting hazmat suits. Check your seals and let’s get started!
What Defines a Hazmat Suit?
Before we go any further, it will be useful to define what a hazmat suit is precisely, and just as importantly what it is not.
There is a tremendous amount of highly specialized personal protective equipment, or PPE, that is commercially available to civilians today and attempting to choose a one-size-fits-all solution from this mountain of gear is not a recipe for success when you’re in a high-stakes situation.
At its most basic, a hazmat suit is a garment that is designed to cover the wearer’s body, and prevent contact or ingestion of hazardous materials of various kinds.
Hazardous materials are grouped into various categories that a given suit may or may not protect against with varying degrees of efficacy. More on that in a minute.
A hazmat suit could be a gas- and vapor-tight fully enclosed and sealed coverall with a self-contained breathing apparatus air supply, or something as simple as a zip-up, vinyl coverall with a separate face shield.
Both are hazmat suits, and can offer complete protection so long as they are rated against the hazardous material you are dealing with.
The lesson that you should learn now is that your hazmat suit should be carefully chosen to protect you against the most likely threat while still affording you maximum mobility and ease of use.
In the next section we will examine the various categories of hazardous material, how they can hurt us and how their characteristics influence suit design and selection.
What Will a Hazmat Suit Protect Against?
Your chosen hazmat suit will provide protection against several material threats, typically.
A proper hazmat suit will also furnish protection against continuous exposure for a certain interval of time, with this interval varying depending upon the quality of the suit and the nature of the hazardous material involved.
It is crucial that you understand not all hazmat suits will provide total protection against all threats in all environments, and many hazmat suits are quite specialized for use in industrial settings to protect against incidental contact with a few specific chemical or biological hazards.
High-Temperature / Fire
Hazmat suits that are resistant to open flames and other sources of extreme heat might not be thought of as stereotypical hazmat gear, but they nonetheless fit into the broader category of hazmat PPE.
Suits, coveralls, masks and hoods designed to protect the wearer against extreme temperatures employ layers of insulation sheathed in reflective materials that will keep a person safe, or at least safer, in extremely hot environments for a time.
Note that suits of this nature typically offer no or little protection against other hazards.
Biohazards
There are all kinds of biological agents, microorganisms and toxins both man-made and natural that can severely sicken or even kill a person if they are ingested or inhaled.
Many biohazards are especially challenging to deal with because they typically take time to manifest symptoms in an afflicted person.
Be it a biohazard from a naturally occurring source or a man-made bioweapon, your only defense against these hazards is an appropriately fitted and worn hazmat suit complete with a respirator or SCBA.
The most virulent or dangerous biohazards mandate the use of a fully encapsulated, pressurized hazmat suit.
Dangerous Chemicals
One of the most pervasive, persistent and likely hazards we will face in our modern era is that posed by dangerous chemicals.
The amount of chemical agents in the world that can cause severe injury or death is countless, and there are a great many that are positively lethal.
It doesn’t matter if these chemicals get into the greater environment or the open air by way of an industrial accident or the terrorist deployment of a legit chemical weapon, you must be ready to act instantly and don both protective apparel and mask if you want to stand any chance of getting through such an exposure unharmed.
Radioactive Material / Substances
One of the most terrifying hazardous material threats is that posed by substances and matter that is either inherently radioactive or has become irradiated by some nuclear event.
Citizens could be exposed to mass amounts of radioactive material by way of a nuclear power plant accident, a nuclear fuel spill, the detonation of a dirty bomb (a weapon designed to scatter irradiated particles far and wide) or even, terror of terrors, the mammoth explosion of a nuclear warhead.
A quality hazmat suit will protect or at least help protect the wearer from the deleterious effects of radiation by preventing the ingestion or inhalation of the material in question, as well as keeping it off the wearers skin.
Now that we know what we are trying to protect ourselves and our loved ones from, we can dig in to all of the many varieties, types and classifications of commercially available hazmat suits.
Varieties of Hazmat Suit
Hazmat suits come in two broad categories: those that are splash protective, and those that are gas and vapor protective.
Of the two, the former is far more common but will not do much to keep you safe from the worst of the worst airborne biological, chemical and radioactive hazards.
The latter variety is far more expensive, intricate and involved but affords the wearer the very best protection in the most dangerous environments.
Gas and Vapor Protective
Gas and vapor protective suits are the giant, fully enclosed “moon suits” that most people think of when they imagine what a hazmat suit looks like.
Generally, suits in this category are what is known as “completely encapsulated”, leaving no gaps outside of accidental tears or holes for airborne hazards or dangerous gases to reach the wearer.
As a rule, they are almost always employed with a tethered air supply or more commonly a portable SCBA and are pressurized to maintain protection for the wearer even if the suit is breached.
Splash Protective
Splash protective hazmat suits are the more common variety, and though they provide less protection overall compared to their gas and vapor protective brethren, they may nonetheless be entirely adequate for your needs so long as you do not need total protection from airborne gases or vapors.
Garments in this category are intended to protect the wearer by keeping splashed chemicals or other hazardous material off of the wearer’s body.
These suits might be fully encapsulated or they might not, but as a rule are paired with a worn respirator or externally carried breathing apparatus with the wearer’s head protected by a hood.
It is easy to fall into the way of thinking that a fully encapsulated gas or vapor protective suit is the only option for “covering all your bases”, but consider that in many scenarios a suit of this nature could be overkill so long as an appropriate respirator, gas mask or breathing apparatus is worn with a splash protective suit.
The greater cost, bulk and lowered endurance that is inherent to the gas and vapor type suits means they might not be the best solution to your particular problem.
Good Hazmat Suit Options for Preppers
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Best for Heat and Flame Protection: Baoheng Anti-Thermal Radiation Suit
For users who don’t anticipate exposure to any truly hazardous chemicals or biological agents and instead just want a suit that can help them manage firefighting or exposure to other sources of extreme heat, this anti-thermal radiation suit from Baoheng is just the ticket.
Composed of melt-resistant and flame retardant thread, insulating cotton batting liner and skinned with an aluminum alloy coating to reflect infrared radiation, this is one suit that can hold up to the heat.
You might look like a baked potato, but you won’t feel like one, as the suit is capable of protecting wearers from harm in temperatures in excess of 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
Again, this suit is not sealed or encapsulated in any way, and makes no provision for the wearing of any respirator or self-contained breathing apparatus as sold. If smoke inhalation or other airborne hazards are a significant threat, you’ll have other problems to worry about.
Note that this suit is sold as a set, and includes the coverall, matching gloves and shoe covers and headgear with a panoramic view integrated face shield. Get it here.
Runner-Up for Heat and Flame Protection: Chicago Protective Apparel 602-ACK Protective Coat
Although it does not quite offer the same level of resistance to extreme temperatures that the Baoheng suit does, Chicago Protective Apparel’s 602-ACK aluminized protective coat still affords protection and resistance to extreme heat and associated threats, and even has the ability to safely shed molten droplets of material like iron or aluminum without being compromised.
The secret is the composite construction which utilizes Carbon X and Kevlar blended fabric that is then sheathed in a heavy duty aluminum coating. Lightweight and strong, these coats are available in multiple lengths to suit any environment or requirement.
These coats provide excellent insulation against heat along with a surprising amount of durability for their flexibility, ensuring that wearers retain their agility and dexterity even in a hazardous environment.
Note that, like other heat resistant suits, this coat even when worn as a complete suit with matching hood, gloves and boot covers does nothing to protect the wearer from the infiltration of hazardous airborne chemicals or biological threats, though it can protect somewhat from incidental splash contact with less hazardous materials.
Best Budget Option for Common Threats: DuPont ProShield 60 Coverall
For preppers who need typical protection from hazardous materials that might be incidentally contacted as a result of widespread destruction, DuPont’s ProShield 60 Coverall with included booties is a great option.
This is a Level C suit, and you’ll need to pair it with your own chemically resistant gloves and sturdy boots that will protect your feet, and the booties, from being punctured while you work.
This suit is constructed from a proprietary polypropylene blend with a permanently bonded microporous film coat. Contact with splashed chemicals or biological agents, aerosols and other non-hazardous particles will not affect the user so long as the suit is intact.
Remember, unless you are dealing with some pretty mild stuff you must wear a respirator, gas mask or self-contained breathing apparatus to have full protection, but this is one suit that won’t fight you if it comes down to that because the integrated hood is designed for a generous fit around such equipment.
A full length front zipper, storm flap zipper coverings and snug elastic openings on the arms and legs make this suit easy to secure against a variety of liquid and solid threats.
Runner-Up for Common Threats: 3M Disposable Protective Coverall 4540 Series
Even if you aren’t facing a severe chemical or biological hazard, much of the time it will pay to keep airborne pollutants off of your skin and clothing in a survival situation.
All sorts of disasters can release various nasty chemicals and other substances from confinement that you otherwise wouldn’t come into contact with, and many of them can degrade your health or make you sick.
For a simple level of protection against such common hazards, the 3M Disposable Protective Coverall fits the bill and does so for an excellent price.
Consisting of an SMS laminate material, the coverall features a two-way zipper, anti-static design, three panel hood (or collar with the hoodless variety), elastic closures at the waist and ankles and a gusseted crotch for maximum mobility even when squatting or kneeling.
The wearer is advised to combine the suit with an appropriate respirator, gas mask or SCBA for appropriate protection in contaminated atmospheres.
These suits are available in bulk and all adult sizes ranging from petite to XXXL, so you can be sure to outfit adult members of your group with one of these on the cheap. Unfortunately there are no options for young adult or children sizes.
Best All-Purpose Suit for Families: Mira Safety Haz-Suit
A popular and common choice for durable, long-lasting, all-around protection, Mira Safety’s Haz-Suit is flexible and available in a tremendous variety of sizes, including children’s sizes, and so is a great choice for preppers with families.
This suit is capable of being worn as Level C or B protection depending on how the wearer accessorizes it, and the suit has been proven time and time again as worthy protection against a variety of biological, chemical and radioactive threats.
This suit is made from composite fabric that is puncture resistant and compatible with an extremely large selection of gas masks, SCBA and full- or half- face respirators to serve any purpose.
All varieties of the Haz-Suit provide total barrier protection against more than 100 known and laboratory tested hazards, and will even protect the wearer against deadly chemical weaponry.
Perhaps most important to preppers, this suit is notable for its extreme durability and extremely long shelf life. Kept cool, dry and away from sources of heat (including direct sunlight) the Haz-Suit will maintain its protective classification and capability for 10 years or more in storage. Get it here.
Runner-Up All-Purpose Suit: DuPont TyChem 2000 Chemical Protection
This is another great suit for all purpose Level C or Level B protection and affordable as part of most prepper’s acquisition plans.
DuPont definitely knows a thing or two about chemicals and about fabrics, and here they utilize their excellent Tyvek fabric and a permanently bonded polyethylene coating to produce a well-rounded suit that affords its wearer dependable protection.
This hazmat suit has been exhaustively tested against dozens of chemical threats and provides reliable splash protection against typical residential and industrial hazards, including those found and the petroleum and chemical processing settings. The suit features an integrated hood and booties and all attachment points are sown with multiple interlocking threads for strength and certainty.
The TyChem 2000 suit comes in any color you want so long as it is yellow, as this color has been found more than any other to increase the safety of those wearing the suit by making them highly visible against the greatest possible number of backgrounds. Get it here.
Best Level A Suit for Deadly Hazards:Lakeland Interceptor Plus Level A Protective Suit
When maximum protection is a life-or-death requirement, look no further than Lakeland’s Interceptor Plus Level A Protective Suit.
This is a fully encapsulating gas- and vapor-tight suit that, when worn with SCBA, will keep the wearer completely safe from an astonishing 4,000 different known hazardous agents, including direct splash from liquids or contact with solids, gases, vapors, aerosols and the finest airborne particulates.
The Interceptor Plus Level A suit is constructed from a sandwich polyester fabric that is sheathed on both sides with a nonwoven, permanently bonded film capable of withstanding the most hostile and hazardous of corrosive gases and liquids.
Lakeland has spared no expense in design or construction, and the integrated wide-view visor is permanently joined to the hood of the suit in such a way that there is no chance of liquid or gas penetrating the edge of the visor so long as it is undamaged.
This is a rear entry suit that is not something the average person can don without help, to say nothing of securing all openings and checking for full functionality of air supply and pressurization.
As befitting protection of this level, it is expensive, and users are advised to acquire appropriate training, education and required secondary equipment to make the most of a suit like this.
Runner-Up Level A Suit: DuPont TyChem TK Commander EX
Another fully encapsulating Level A suit, DuPont’s TyChem TK Commander EX is a premier option for working safely in environments contaminated or otherwise exposed to the most hazardous chemical and biological threats.
This is another suit that spares no expense or thought when it comes to design and construction and is considered mandatory equipment for workers and agents going into harm’s way in hot zones.
This suit consists of a proprietary composite fabric permanently bonded between two layers of PVC to afford maximum protection.
Gloves and sock style booties are integrated and consist of rubber over an inner barrier material. All seams are thermally bonded to ensure a total closure that doesn’t leave the tiniest opening for hazards to sneak in through.
All zipper closures are gas tight, feature double storm flaps and the rear entrance is oversized to contain an SCBA tank within the confines of the suit.
Though not quite as impressive as Lakeland’s Interceptor Plus above, the TK Commander EX has been relentlessly lab tested against more than 250 hazardous chemical agents, including military grade chemical weaponry. It is cold comfort to know that this suit can protect you even from such infamous and lethal threats as VX and Sarin gas.
Hazmat Suit Protection Levels
Now we are getting down to the nitty gritty. When shopping for a hazmat suit, it is essential that you understand what level of protection and what other capabilities that suit will provide you before you pull the trigger on a purchase.
Hazmat suits are generally rated and categorized by protection level, with levels ranging from ‘A’, the highest level of protection, to ‘D’ the lowest level of protection.
Only by understanding your specific threat, both as an event and its physical properties, can you make an informed purchasing decision.
Level A
A hazmat suit that is categorized Level A indicates that it is possessed of the best protective qualities possible, though what chemical, biological or radiological hazards it is proof against may vary depending on its specific construction.
Suits that rate this level of protection are almost always fully encapsulated with an integrated face covering or shield and capable of carrying a self-contained breathing apparatus. Level A suits protect against vapors, gases, mists and the finest airborne particulates.
These suits must include chemically resistant gloves, integrated booties or socks and be worn with crush proof safety toe boots and shanks outside of the suit. Suits of this nature are complicated and expensive, but your only option for survival against the most dangerous hazards.
Level B
Suits in the Level B category are similar to Level A but are not necessarily gas and vapor tight. These suits are also designed to be worn with a self-contained breathing apparatus, but the SCBA may be worn outside the suit.
Wrist and foot openings, if present, are designed to be taped or sealed to prevent the ingress of hazardous material.
Once again, appropriate gloves must be worn and boots must be crush resistant with steel shanks to guarantee the integrity and protection level of the suit.
Level C
Level C suits are as you might expect a downgrade of Level B, designed to protect the wearer from direct splashes or contact with hazardous materials. An SCBA is optional, and respiratory protection in the form of a gas mask or respirator can be utilized instead.
Gloves and boots are chemically resistant and specific to the threat substance one is dealing with. It should be noted that this level of protection can only be relied upon if the specific nature of the threat is understood and actions can be taken to minimize danger.
Chemical or biological threats that can cause harm through incidental contact with skin or defeat the protective equipment being worn may compromise the suit’s protection.
Level D
Level D protection is interesting and unique among the other classifications in that garments in this category are not really hazmat suits at all.
In fact, Level D protection does not protect the wearer from any particular chemical or biological exposure, and instead denotes typical, hard-use workwear like coveralls, jumpsuits or even bunker gear that may or may not have other special qualities, such as heat resistance.
A firefighter’s call-out gear is one such well known example that is considered Level D, even though it offers no particular protection from direct contact with dangerous agents.
Now that we have learned what’s what when it comes to protection levels it is time to start shopping for the right suit for our purposes. The list above will get you started with several excellent recommendations capable of serving almost any requirement and any budget.
Choosing and Using Your Hazmat Suit
If you’re going to be wearing your hazmat suit for any duty more dangerous than cleaning up some rubble or changing the oil in your car, you must carefully think through your specific requirements and the conditions in which the suit will be worn.
First and most pressing on most people’s list of considerations is going to be cost.
Level C and even many Level B suits are entirely affordable on almost any budget, but stepping up to a proper Level A suit is a jump in cost that most will balk at.
Everyone understandably wants the very best protection available, but it pays to learn what you are talking about and what you’ll be dealing with before committing financially to a suit that might be “overmatched” to protect you.
Also consider the cost of necessary additional equipment such as gloves, footwear, sealing tape and any respirators or SCBA’s as needed.
Also consider your group or family situation. These suits are not one-size-fits-all, and an ill-fitting suit will either not work or prove to be too vulnerable to damage to rely on for protection.
In particular, children and adults of extremely slight stature have a hard time finding suits that will fit them properly, with very few manufacturers making child sized hazmat suits.
Other factors that should be considered regarding fit include compatibility with respirators, gas masks and regulators, and fitting a hood, if included, around a face shield if not built in.
There are secondary challenges attendant in donning and doffing hazmat suits, as well as actually getting things done while wearing them.
First, consider that while a suit might completely protect you from whatever it is that could kill you were you not wearing it, when the time comes to remove the suit and get out of it the dangerous agent will still be present on the exterior of the suit and any exterior equipment.
Have you practiced decontamination protocols with anyone who might be with you? Also consider how you are going to communicate and how long you can expect to move around while wearing the bulky, claustrophobic suit and associated equipment.
With just a little bit of forethought and common sense along with the correct education you can be confident that you will choose a suit that is right for your purposes.
Will You Get One?
A hazmat suit is just about the only thing that can reliably protect a human being from exposure to dangerous chemicals, biohazards and even radioactive material.
But not all of these suits are created equal, and choosing a suit that is properly rated for a specific threat along with wearing it and the required secondary equipment correctly is vital if you want to survive being exposed to all these varied threats endemic to our modern era.
Use the information and recommendations presented above and soon you will have a hazmat suit that you can rely on.
