Whenever a natural disaster hits the survivors can usually be divided into two groups: Those who prepared ahead of time, and those that didn’t. [...]
The post Normalcy Bias: The Biggest Threat to your Survival During Disasters appeared first on Off Grid Survival - Wilderness & Urban Survival Skills.
In episode 6 of the new Survival Cache podcast, Doc Montana and Drew review the famous Ruger 10/22 from its humble beginnings in the 1960s all the way through the modern age “Ruger 10/22 Takedown” iterations. Both Doc and Drew have extensive experience with the 10/22 platform, and they discuss their loves, their gripes, their fixes, and their personal takes on the 10/22 as a survival rifle. With lots of banter about accessories, modifications, and the whole 10/22 envelope, this is a great episode for lovers of the almighty Ruger 10/22! It’s a great episode for those of us looking to upgrade our survival rifle selection, check it out!
A fun episode with lots of opinions, click on a link below to listen or download to your phone and listen later. Please don’t forget to chime in on the topic!
Doc and Drew invite you to discuss and debate, via email: podcast(at)survivalcache(dot)com!
The post Survival Cache Podcast Episode 6: The Ruger 10/22 appeared first on Survival Cache.
One of the key pillars to being prepared is having a good water plan. Water is key to life and clean water is key to good health. I have a lot of experience with water filters and have been experimenting with different water filtration methods for years both at my house and in the field. I recently decided to look into a water filter made by a company called Hydroviv and compare it to other filters that are commercially available on the market. As many of you know, I really am not a big fan of granular activated carbon filters (GAC). I know that this is the worst way to filter water and over time, water will create pathways around the carbon no matter how tight it is packed.
Contributed by By Mark, Former Marine Reconnaissance Team Leader, Marine Infantry Officer, Cross Fit Coach, Water Expert, and Survivalist.
Activated coconut carbon filters works with a process called adsorption, this happens as water pollutant molecules attach themselves inside the pore structure of the carbon as they pass through. Typical contaminate particulate sizes that can be removed by carbon filters range from 0.5 to 50 microns. The particulate size that the filter removes will generally be used as part of the filter description. The efficacy, per NSF/ANSI Standards, of a carbon filter is also based upon the flow rate regulation. When the water is allowed to flow through the filter at a slower rate, the contaminants are exposed to the filter media for a longer amount of time. So, the longer it takes for the water to pass by the carbon, the better the level of filtration (Your 10 second Brita filter time is removing nothing, so to let you know this scary fact).
Also Read: DIY Expedient Field Water Filter
Activated coconut carbon filters are most effective at removing chlorine, particles such as sediment, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), taste and odor from water. They are not very effective at removing trace minerals & salts, which is why you will sometimes get a high TDS reading on water that has went through a water filter system. TDS meters, you know the $1.25 ones from China that ZeroWater gives you with their water pitcher, is not a good way to determine water quality. TDS measures trace minerals & salts in the water. TDS does not measure other contaminants like fluoride, pharmaceuticals, heavy metals (lead), chemicals (chlorine), pesticides (RoundUp), herbicides, hormones, & more. That is why if you really read ZeroWater’s marketing material, they never really say that TDS is bad or a concern. They just say that will get it down to zero. I am much more concerned about chemicals & metals that I am about trace minerals (which I want in my water) which cause a little bit higher TDS reading.
So I was a little disappointed to learn the Hydroviv makes their filters by dumping loose packed carbon into their filter based on some third party website tap water testing dating as
far back as 2015. I was also a little skeptical about their independent testing…which their is none. I mean, how can you have a filter that removes lead but your filters have not been independently tested based on the design of your filter and how it flows through their system. Just because you find a filter media (activated coconut carbon or KDF media) that reduces or removes a contaminant, you still need to have an independent lab test your design and filter and prove your theory for the consumer.
Related: Survival Food Pyramid
If I live in a old house (which I do) and we have old pipes both in our house and in our neighborhood that are leaching lead into my water. I want to know how much lead your filter is going to remove, for how long, and is your filter certified by a 3rd party. Unfortunately Hydroviv does none of these. They offer no data on the amount of lead reduction their filters achieve, they have no capacity testing to tell you how long their filters work for, and they have not been independently reviewed or certified to NSF/ANSI standards so buyer beware when it comes to these filters. I will compare Hydroviv vs 2 other commercially available water filters just so can see the difference between a quality home filtration product and what I think are jokes.
Also Read: Do Brita Water Filters Work?
Woder 10k-DC Water Filter – Woder, a company that sells a lot of water filters on Amazon makes some pretty outrageous claims about their product lasting to 10,000 gallons. I recently purchased 
one of their products just to see what kind of special sauce was in their filter that could last all the way out to 10,000 gallons. I mean, that is a crazy claim and it had to be some new space age material that no one had ever heard of to do this type of massive filtration all the way to 10,000 gallons!!! I was extremely disappointed to find out that like the Hydroviv system, Woder was just using loose packed granular activated carbon (GAC) filters like the cheap style filter that Brita uses. I always tell people, if you shake your water filter and you can hear it move around like it has sand inside, you have a cheap water filter. As you can see from this picture (I took the saw out & opened up a Woder filter to see that magic stuff) it is all Bull Sh*t. I also tried to dig into their testing because as a prepper, I want a water filter that removes a ton of contaminants and I need to know when I have to change the filter to protect my family. Woder’s testing…well good luck finding it on their website. It does not exist. Like Hydroviv, a lot talk about being a great filter but not a lot of backing it up with real data. Between Hydroviv and Woder, I guess at least Hydroviv is trying to do the right thing. Woder is just out there making crazy claims with no science or proof behind it. Neither is a good choice in my mind.
Epic Smart Shield – Epic Water Filters is a company that I have reviewed several of their products and like other water 
filtration companies that I like (Berkey, MSR) they use solid carbon block filters. Everything that I have read, all of the testing that I done, all of the data that I have reviewed says that carbon blocks are superior to GAC filters. It is not even close. So when I look at the Epic Smart Shield vs. Hydroviv vs. Woder, it is not even close. Yes, the Epic Smart Shield is a few bucks more but when you dive into the details of the products the Smart Shield is worth every penny. Also, the Epic Smart Shield is an American made carbon block filter that has been tested and certified to 3 different NSF/ANSI drinking water standards by an independent laboratory. As you can see from this picture, I cut open both the Woder and the Epic Smart Shield and put them side by side. Think about trying to get water through that thick carbon block filter vs. the loose packed carbon sand. You can shake the Epic Smart Shield all day along and you will not hear it make any noise. 
It is solid brick of carbon. Here is a quick overview of the three different under the sink water filter products.
Made from solid carbon block filter?
Woder 10k-DC: NO (GAC like Brita)
Hydroviv: NO (GAC like Brita)
Epic Smart Shield: YES
Independently Certified to NSF/ANSI 42 Standard (Chlorine, Taste, Odor):
Woder 10k-DC: NO
Hydroviv: NO
Epic Smart Shield: YES
Independently Certified to NSF/ANSI 53 Standard (Health Effects like Lead & Metals):
Woder 10k-DC: NO
Hydroviv: NO
Epic Smart Shield: YES
Independently Certified to NSF/ANSI 401 Standard (Trace Pharmaceuticals & Emerging Contaminants):
Woder 10k-DC: NO
Hydroviv: NO
Epic Smart Shield: YES
Tested to Remove Bacteria?
Woder 10k-DC: NO
Hydroviv: NO
Epic Smart Shield: YES
Tested to Remove PFOA/PFOS?
Woder 10k-DC: NO
Hydroviv: NO
Epic Smart Shield: YES
Tested to Remove Glysophate (RoundUp)?
Woder 10k-DC: NO
Hydroviv: NO
Epic Smart Shield: YES
Comes with a dedicated faucet version?
Woder 10k-DC: NO
Hydroviv: NO
Epic Smart Shield: YES
Bottomline: Do your research on a company or product before you buy a water filtration product. There is a lot of junk out there, especially all of the Chinese junk on Amazon. Dive into their data or lack of data. Look for companies that show third party testing & certifications. Read their reviews and customer service experience.
The post Survival Gear Review: Hydroviv Water Filter appeared first on Survival Cache.
A look at Real-World Zombies. Separating fact from fiction, and how to survive a real zombie apocalypse [...]
The post The Zombie Apocalypse is Real, and it’s already started appeared first on Off Grid Survival - Wilderness & Urban Survival Skills.
For the first time in history, researchers in China successfully implanted human brain genes into monkeys, kicking off fears of a Planet of the Apes type disaster. [...]
The post A Real Life Planet of the Apes? Scientists implant human brain genes into monkeys! appeared first on Off Grid Survival - Wilderness & Urban Survival Skills.
In Episode 5 of the Survival Cache Podcast, Doc Montana and Drew geek out over survival lighting & all things flashlights. Both Doc and Drew have extensive knowledge on the subject matter, and review everything from flashlights to lanterns to batteries to solar-powered illumination to area lighting. When things go south and it starts to get dark, you will be glad you invested in a good set of flashlights (two is one and one is none). It’s a great episode for those of us looking to upgrade our lighting situations, check it out!
A fun episode with lots of opinions – download, listen, and chime in on the topic!
Doc and Drew invite you to discuss and debate, via email: podcast(at)survivalcache(dot)com!
The post Survival Cache Podcast: Episode 5: Flashlights appeared first on Survival Cache.
A breakdown of the best survival backpacks. What to look for, and what features to choose, and what style suits your situation. [...]
The post Buying a Survival Backpack: Military Bags vs Civilian Hiking Backpacks appeared first on Off Grid Survival - Wilderness & Urban Survival Skills.
Here in my home state of Maine, water and its associated lifeforms are in abundant supply. As such, I can – and do – absolutely plan on catching fish to accentuate my diet in case of emergency. Fortunately, fish are (relatively) easy to catch, and as long as you have just a smattering of moderately specialized fishing kits and a dash of know-how and water-reading ability, the fish-catching process can be simple and effective enough to almost guarantee you a fish dinner in exchange for your efforts. At the base level, unsophisticated fishing is (usually) productive, does not require the burning up of mass calorie reserves, and can be utilized as a food procurement method even by the inexperienced.
By Drew, contributing author to SHTFblog and Survival Cache
While hooks and other fishing gear fashioned by whittling sticks or mutilating pop-top cans can work, life is so much simpler with properly-designed fishing apparatus. Actual wire fish hooks, split shot sinkers, and swivels are perfectly refined to do their intended jobs – so why not carry them with you in your bug-out bag, 
glove compartment, or emergency kit? If you live in an area that has an abundance of fishable water, there is zero reason not to have these tools with you – they are terribly inexpensive, take up almost no space, are very light, and are reusable as long as they are not lost or damaged beyond repair.
I don’t want a full-on tackle box rattling around in my bug-out bag, so I devised a makeshift fishing kit that has everything I need for tackle for set-line bait-fishing, in a small package that floats. Assuming you have a couple basic tools, this kit costs practically nothing and is super easy to to make and customize. Here’s what I came up with.
Also read: 5 Dollar Preps: DIY Fire Starter
Though I’m sure someone else can lay claim to being the originator of this idea or something like it, the idea came to my head when I saw a pile of wine corks on the counter after one of my wife’s “girl’s nights” where my ol’lady and her ol’ friends gather about, drink wine, and gossip while I disappear into my man-cave, putter about, and watch Clint Eastwood movies. I wondered what I could do with this seemingly infinitely renewable resource (Girl’s Nights becoming more and more popular, it seems), and thought that the lightweight corks would make great fishing bobbers since they float beautifully. The idea evolved from there, and what I propose below is the product of my (meager) brain power applied to the problem. The concept will likely morph further, (your ideas welcome!) but is eminently useful as-is, for my intended short-term SHTF fishing needs. Here’s what I did.
I gathered the necessary components for construction and assembly:
don’t crumble and break apart as readily as real wood cork, especially when drilling and working them.Step one: grab the cork with the bench vise, tightly enough so that the cork doesn’t 
spin around when you drill a hole through it with a high-speed drill bit. Don’t worry about over-tightening; any deformations from squishing the cork in the vise usually aren’t permanent – just in case you like your corks in pristine shape.
Step two: use the drill to make a hole all the way through the center of the cork. Drill in the long direction. I used a ¼” drill bit. Exact centering is not required, but who needs to have an OCD twitch in the middle of a survival situation? Do it right, you’ll thank me later.
Step three: Find a split shot (round line weight) that’s just slightly larger than the cork hole you just made. Stuff it in the hole to make a friction-fit stopper. Leave just enough protruding out so you can pop the split shot out of the cork with a knife point or other tool. If you drilled a hole larger than the split shot weights you can find, you’ll have to use something else to seal the whole works up.
Step four: Fill the rest of the drill-inflicted cork hole with small tackle. I stuffed a couple smaller split shot and a couple swivels in mine…though thinking back on it, the swivels are probably of minimal value for survival fishing, and the interior of the cork would be better utilized by carrying more split shot for fishing fast-moving water or replacing lost gear.
Step five: Jam another large split shot in the other end of the cork to keep its contents from falling out. The cork should be effectively sealed up at this point, with whatever contents you installed in its innards.
Step six: Take your knife and cut a couple smallish notches in the cork body. This is completely optional. I did this to provide a place to tie a line around so I can use the cork as a bobber and not have to worry about whatever I use for a fishing line slip off.
Step seven: Use the outside of the cork to hold fish hooks of whatever size you’d like to have with you. I used number 6 and number 8 hooks, since the predominance of fish in the area I live in are trout, perch, and small bass which can be caught more easily on smaller hooks. Big fish can be caught on smaller hooks as well – but if the fish can’t fit the hook in its mouth, it can’t be caught – so I usually err on the smaller side. You can wind a rubber band around the hooks to keep them tight to the cork body and minimize possibility of them catching on things.
Step eight: Throw the whole works in whatever carrying/bag/glove compartment/pocket setup you have along with some fishing line and/or paracord and a knife, and rejoice in not having to try to whittle a gorge hook when you want to fish – you can devote that time to looking for bait and swatting black flies! You’re welcome!
This little kit is eminently customizable within the confines of the cork’s size. I can see probably spray-painting the outside of the cork safety orange to enhance visibilty, or maybe wrapping it with tinfoil so I could set the line and cork bobber out overnight and check for its whereabouts with a flashlight once the sun goes down. Heck, you could probably even thread a couple hooks sticking out of the cork body and fashion a rudimentary top-water plug for trying to catch bass or aggressive pickerel-type fish. Make it yours – fill it with what you think works for you and the fish in your area, and try it out! I’d love to get some feedback from you, dear readers, on improvements and modifications to this way simple, borderline rudimentary survival fishing rig!
Questions? Comments? Sound off in the comments below!
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