Gear And Reviews
This site is not about fancy gadgets or ultralight backpacking gear (to be honest I couldn’t be even if I wanted to–I don’t have the money to be a gear snob!).
Even so, being prepared means having the tools and supplies you need to handle yourself in a variety of situations.
I focus on the most “prepper” gear out there. Stuff that is functional, affordable, really sturdy and really simple–not necessarily the top of the line in every category.
If you get this and it’s your bag, here’s a few gear review prepisodes you might enjoy:
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Daily Prep Episode 305: Utility Flame Fuel Gel-Good Prep or Not?Have any of you guys seen the “Utility Flame” gel packets yet? I got my hands on a couple of these a few weeks back,(More)… |
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Daily Prep Episode 302: PowerPot Initial ImpressionsThrough a mutual acquaintance, I met the guys from PowerPot last week. If you guys haven’t heard of them yet, they make a really cool(More)… |
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Daily Prep Episode 295: Why Carry A Knife?You ever stop and ask yourself “Why carry a knife?” Day after day, as we’re heading out the door, we grab our keys, wallets and(More)… |
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Daily Prep Episode 294: Kershaw SkylineLast Friday, I picked up a new little EDC knife… the Kershaw Skyline. I was at Blade HQ’s 10th anniversary and storefront grand opening party.(More)… |
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Come Hang With Me at the Blade HQ Party! 3/29/13In case you guys can’t remember, these are the dudes that invited me to come field test the Zero Tolerance 350 knife with them last(More)… |
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Daily Prep Episode 280: Indoor Propane Heater for $89Last winter, a giant windstorm hit Utah. For several days, some people were without power, and accordingly without heat. Families bundled up in extra clothing and(More)… |
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Daily Prep Episode 251: Goal Zero Solar Field TripRemember my caribou hunt in Alaska? Nobody really knows this, but that video would not have existed without Goal Zero portable solar chargers! My camera(More)… |
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Daily Prep Episode 242: SOL Escape BivyHey Guys, After a long hiatus, I have another gear review for you–this time on the SOL Escape Bivy. I’ve had this bivy for a(More)… |
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Daily Prep Episode 236: Have You Actually Used Your EDC?I wanna know–have you actually used your EDC? If so, let me know in the comments-better yet, send me a video response via YouTube showing(More)… |
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Daily Prep Episode 215: What Pack Should I Use for My Bug Out Bag?So a little while back, I got the following email from a reader: Hi, I just wanted to say first off that I really enjoy(More)… |
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Daily Prep Episode 214: Is the Jetboil Stove a Good Prep?When I was in Alaska for 12 days, I used a Jetboil stove to do my cooking (i.e. boil water for my Mountain House). They(More)… |
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Daily Prep Episode 212: How To Get Discounts on GearFor today’s “best of web” Monday, I feature a website called Promotive. Simply put, Promotive is a middle man between gear manufacturers and “industry leader(More)… |
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Daily Prep Episode 210: Mountain House Freeze Dried Meals (in pouches)For the 12 days that I was in Alaska, guess what I was eating… Mountain House! For today’s Gear Review Wednesday, I review freeze dried(More)… |
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Daily Prep Episode 206: Desert Tactical Arms SRS CovertFor today’s Gear Review Wednesday, I thought I’d show you guys one of the rifles that Desert Tactical Arms manufacturers. The SRS (Stealth Recon Scout)(More)… |
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Daily Prep Episode 203: Gerber Prodigy (Part 2)If you guys have been with me long enough, you may have seen the first review I did of the Gerber Prodigy. Unfortunately that review(More)… |
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Daily Prep Episode 199: Country Living Grain MillAs preppers, we know that the ability to “eat what you store” is HUGE. And a grain mill is an awesome way to do just(More)… |
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Daily Prep Episode 195: Emberlit Stove ReviewLast month I caught up with my buddy Ben from Financial Survivalist, and did a little dispersed camping up the road from me. While there(More)… |
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Daily Prep Episode 188: Zero Tolerance 350 Folder (Part Deux)What’s up guys, for today’s Gear Review Wednesday, I wanted to give you guys an up close and personal look at the Zero Tolerance 350(More)… |
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Daily Prep Episode 179: Turn Muddy Water Into a Sports DrinkIt might not be water into wine, but the Hydropak pouches allow you to turn filthy, brackish, disgusting mud into a purified sports drink. How?(More)… |
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Daily Prep Episode 175: Review of The M3 Medic BagIn today’s “Gear Review Wednesday” I give you a look at the M3 Medic Bag, from the guys at 1st Survival Gear. This is a(More)… |
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Daily Prep Episode 162: Zero Tolerance 350 Folding Knife(2 videos in playlist-second one begins automatically after the 1st is finished.) In today’s “Gear Review Wednesday” I throw to some footage I took a(More)… |
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Daily Prep Episode 156: UCO Waterproof Matches Gear ReviewIf you haven’t seen the UCO Stormproof Matches in action yet, you definitely need to check these guys out! They are windproof and waterproof–REALLY windproof(More)… |
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Daily Prep Episode 142: Survival Straps Paracord BraceletIt’s Gear Review Wednesday, and today I give you guys a look at my paracord bracelet and key fob from Survival Straps. Although there are(More)… |
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Daily Prep Episode 131: The Micro EDCIn today’s “Gear Review Wednesday”, I give you an up close and personal look at my micro EDC. And when I say “micro”, I mean(More)… |
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Daily Prep Episode 122: Review-Timbuk2 Messenger BagGear Review Wednesday, and today I give you a look at the Timbuk2 Messenger Bag. Messenger bags have some SERIOUS advantages over backpacks and other(More)… |
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Daily Prep Episode 110: Review of The 36 Hour Emergency CandleIn today’s Gear Review Wednesday, I give you a look at the 36 hour emergency candle. It’s made of liquid paraffin wax, and features: smokeless(More)… |
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Daily Prep Episode 105: Review of The Smith’s Pocket Pal Knife SharpenerGear Review Wednesday, and today I’m giving you a look at the handy little Pocket Pal, by Smith’s Knife Sharpeners While perhaps not the absolute(More)… |
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Daily Prep Episode 99: Review of The Pry Bar Mora KnifeFor today’s Gear Review Wednesday, I thought I’d give you guys a look at my most recent knife, the Pry Bar Mora. This is the(More)… |
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Daily Prep Episode 94: Review of My Car Survival KitGear Review Wednesday, and today I thought I’d give you guys a look at my car survival kit. With Christmas and New Years just around(More)… |
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Daily Prep Episode 81: Review of The Grabber Reusable Space BlanketToday’s Gear Review Wednesday gives you a closer look at The Grabber Reusable Space Blanket. This is something I used with Cody From Boise in(More)… |
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Daily Prep Episode 76: Review of Candle In A CanGear review Wednesday, and today I’m checking out the “Candle In A Can.” What do you think? |
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Daily Prep Episode 72: Review of The Hi Tec Altitude Ultra WPiGear Review Wednesday! Today we’re checking out some of what makes the Hi Tec Altitude Ultra WPi a great boot. Having weathered a couple “mock(More)… |
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Daily Prep Episode 67: Review of The Coleman Magnesium FirestarterIn today’s Gear Review Wednesday, I give you a look at the Coleman Magnesium Firestarter, available at Wal Mart, Big 5, or probably any other(More)… |
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Daily Prep Episode 62: Review of The Gerber Paraframe 1It’s “Gear Review Wednesday”, and this time, I’m giving you an up close and personal look at my trusty EDC knife, the Gerber Paraframe 1.(More)… |
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Daily Prep Episode 57: Review of G24 Innovations Power Curve Solar UnitG24 Innovations Solar Curve I got a new toy! The itty-bitty G24 Innovations Power Curve solar unit. It’s a BOB-sized solar panel, that definitely won’t(More)… |
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Daily Prep Episode 53: Your Secret Stash of EDC ParacordWhat is the best way to carry 6 feet of paracord with you everyday? Your shoes. I recently had the idea to scrap my flimsy(More)… |
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Daily Prep Episode 52: Guest Review of The Radio Shack Pro 163 Police ScannerToday is gear review Wednesday, and at long last, it’s time for a guest video. J-Web, friend and long time member of The Urbivalist Community,(More)… |
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Daily Prep Episode 47: 2 Crucial Duties of Your Cold Weather Base LayerThe tights Prepisode. Since I did my 72 hour urban bug out earlier this year, I’ve received a handful of comments and emails from Cody(More)… |
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Daily Prep Episode 42: Review of The Aquamira Frontier ProVER-SA-TIL-I-TY. Say it with me folks. Simply put, the Aquamira Frontier Pro is truly one of the MOST bang for your buck pieces of survival gear(More)… |
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Daily Prep Episode 41: Review of the Smith and Wesson Border Guard KnifeThe Border Guard folder is definitely not the prettiest in the bunch. Plus it’s too heavy and long to be a good EDC knife. But(More)… |
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Daily Prep Episode 37: How To Make Electricity From Salt WaterWater into wine? How about salt water into electricity? That’s what this crazy little battery charger by Infratech does. In this Prepisode, I test the(More)… |
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Daily Prep Episode 34: Firearms Q&A With Seth of Utahguns.comField trip Friday! This time, to talk a little firearms with my good friend Seth, of utahguns.com. If you still have not dipped a toe(More)… |
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Daily Prep Episode 32: Is Your Garden Hose Cancerous?After posting Prepisode 18, on bulk water storage, I had a little something brought to my attention. Many garden hoses, in fact MOST garden hoses,(More)… |
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Daily Prep Episode 27: Water Storage Space SaversIf you don’t have enough space to store a 55 gallon water barrel, I feel your pain. Prior to moving to my Utah abode, my(More)… |
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Daily Prep Episode 23: Review of The 4-in-1 Emergency ToolWhy didn’t I think of inventing the 4-in-1 Emergency Tool? It’s simple, inexpensive, and it serves multiple functions (way more than 4!). They assist in(More)… |
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Daily Prep Episode 18: 55 Gallons of Liquid LifeIn the eternal order of things, water is sacred. He who is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with(More)… |
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Daily Prep Episode 8: 7 EDC (Every Day Carry) Items In a Floss ContainerI’ve held out for long enough. It’s time to commit to carrying at least a few items EVERY single day. To this point, I’ve just(More)… |
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Urban Survival Death Match: Fixed Blade vs. Multi-ToolA couple days ago, I revisited the desert island question. If I had to choose 1 cutting edge in my bug out bag, would it(More)… |
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Video Field Trip: 72 Hour Urban Mock Bug OutWet willy ear plugs, peeing in back alleys, and crapping in bushes–If the footage is a little shaky, if I suck on screen, or if(More)… |
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Sailboat-The Best Bug Out Vehicle?In the middle of my corporate ladder climbing career (which lasted less than 3 years), I read the story of a young boy who single(More)… |
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Best Bug Out Bag For Your Money?I must’ve been good this year, cause I had a treasure under the tree. Although I’ve sold them for quite a while, it wasn’t until(More)… |
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Best Urban Survival Fixed Blade Knife?In my search to find the best urban survival fixed blade knife, I’ve come across all kinds. The debate is an ongoing on–carbon or stainless?(More)… |
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The Top 7 Urban Survival Gifts of 2010‘Tis the Season! The tree at the Rockefeller Center has been lit, Christmas music is on the radio, and egg nog is in stores–in case(More)… |
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Can Your Urban Survival Kit Do This?Why are people so in love this kit? Is it the quality red bag it comes packaged in? Is it the smokin’ $80 price point?(More)… |

























































