Author: Braxton Taylor
In an unpredictable world, being prepared for emergencies—whether natural disasters, economic instability, societal disruptions, or a SHTF scenario—can make the difference between survival and hardship. The top 5 essentials for survival preparedness—top-level primary essentials, or categories for survival—are Food, Water, Shelter, Security, and Health/First Aid. These form the foundational pillars of any robust preparedness plan. By focusing on these five categories, you can build a comprehensive strategy that ensures you and your loved ones can endure challenging situations. Below, we’ll go over each category, offering practical advice, key considerations, and actionable steps to get started. 1. Food: Sustaining Energy and…
For people in the military, missing work because of car trouble isn’t really an option. Frequent permanent change-of-station moves require you to crisscross the country every few years. You may even have vehicle inspections standing between you and a long weekend, so proper maintenance is key.Paying for preventative maintenance and surprise repairs at a dealership or independent mechanic is expensive. You can save thousands of dollars by doing the work yourself, and many military bases have an auto skills center or hobby shop where you can work on your car in a safe environment with all the tools you’re likely…
The flashlight is very high on the list of essential items for prepping and preparedness, every day carry, or any survival kit. Pretty much everyone already has one or two in the house somewhere. But what exactly is a survival flashlight, and what’s best? The challenge is that there are so many flashlights to pick from, and so many various uses. What is the best survival flashlight?Answer: The one that you have! It’s better than nothing at all! When it comes down to it, a flashlight is a flashlight, right? While that’s true in the context of its fundamental purpose…
Calisthenics and cardio exercises can be arranged in several ways to improve running times and overall fitness test scores. Few, though, push you as hard as this one in a progressive manner — until you fail.The Max Out PT Pyramid workout is a “one-way trip” up the half pyramid, also known as a ladder, until you can no longer achieve the required reps for that set. The workout is broken down to make this multi-set challenge understandable.Warm-UpBike for 10 minutes or run 1 mile to get the body moving. The beauty of this pyramid is that the first few sets…
Imagine powered exoskeletons that enable soldiers to operate in the world’s most austere regions. Accompanied by robotic dogs and cargo drones, the troops can move through snow, easily carrying over 100 pounds of gear. This is no longer science fiction. Earlier this year, China’s People’s Liberation Army executed an “intelligent logistics devices” exercise on the far-western Karakoram Plateau of the Xinjiang Military District, part of a push to move such gear from demonstrations to deployment.China has spent the last several years building a diverse exoskeleton research-and-development ecosystem: In 2019, the PLA hosted a “Super Warrior” contest in which 50-plus prototypes from 25 developers…
In survival scenarios, whether you’re navigating the wilderness, preparing for emergencies, or operating in tactical situations, a reliable pair of binoculars can be a lifesaver. Survival binoculars are specialized optical tools designed to provide clear vision, durability, and portability in harsh environments. This article examines the key attributes of survival binoculars, their use-case scenarios, and evaluates three top models: the Steiner MM1050 Military-Marine 10×50 Tactical Binocular, the Leupold BX-4 Pro Guide HD Binocular (10x42mm), and the Vortex Optics Diamondback 10×42 Binocular. Contents (Jump to a Section) Key Attributes of Survival Binoculars Survival binoculars must meet specific criteria to perform reliably in extreme…
What is the best canned chicken? Here’s a comparison of reviews and rankings for canned chicken from Swanson, Kirkland, and Wellsley Farms. Why am I writing this? Because canned chicken is one of the food items that I store in abundance for prepping and preparedness (among many other things). I have purchased all three brands (and there are more, but I’m sticking to these three for the purpose of this article). I was about to order several more cases of canned chicken, and decided to do some online research to discover which of these (if any) stand out among the…
I’m a prepper by natural instinct, as I am sure are many others. I became increasingly serious about prepping after the occurence of significant events including the Twin Towers 9/11/2001, the market crashes of 2000 (the dot-com bubble) and 2008 (the global financial crisis), the Iraq & Afghanistan wars, major natural disasters such as the 2005 Hurricane Katrina, the the 2011 Fukushima (Japan) nuclear power station meltdown from a major earthquake and tsunami, the solar superstorm of 2012 near miss CME that would have wiped out our way of life, the realization of potential destruction from vulnerabilities of cyberattack since the…
Escort Shotguns just unveiled two new 12-gauge pump-action shotgun models, the new Escort Slugger and Escort Slugger Tact. Both models are designed around the same modular, pump-action mechanism and are built to be security-focused shotguns. As such, both the new Escort Slugger and Slugger Tact have 18-inch barrels with a fixed, cylinder-bore choke. This allows for easy interchangeability between buckshot and slugs. Likewise, both of these shotguns have standard 3-inch magnum chambers. Escort also manufactures the Slugger and Slugger Tact shotguns with oxidation-resistant chrome-plated steel barrels. These barrels are proof tested at the Escort factory in Turkey to ensure maximum…
Home canning is a time-honored tradition that allows you to preserve fresh produce, create delicious jams, and preserve meats, all while stocking your pantry with homemade goods. For those serious about safe and efficient canning, the All American 921 Pressure Canner stands out as a top choice in 2025. With its 21.5-quart capacity, durable construction, and innovative metal-to-metal sealing system, this pressure canner is a favorite among both beginners and seasoned canners. In this article, we’ll explore why the All American 921 is the best pressure canner for safe home canning, delving into its features, benefits, and tips for maximizing…