Recommended survival setup sites

T

TheBishop

Joined
Aug 27, 2009
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As I'm thinking about things besides knives, I figure its time ( a bit late I know) of getting together a full survival kit and bug out bag.

Anyone have any recommended site that cover a lot of equipment at good prices?

Much appreciated.

Yep, besides knives and a fell fundamentals, am starting from scratch pretty much.
Plan is to stack the pickup with enough gear/odds and ends to make if for a while in the SHTF situation.
 
TADGEAR.com and Greygrouptraining.com have some sweet stuff. You gotta develop your pack list based on personal preference and experience, but those sites will give you some ideas.
 
Yeah, I'm just starting to think for me and the wife.
Checking them out now, bens looks good and funtional, but I'm so noobie, I don't know what a Ghillie Kettle is :o

Gotta walk before you can run.


Just watched the vid, that Ghillie Kettle is sweet!
 
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To me skills are far more valuable then gear. Or knowing how to make/acquire what you need. With that said I would say this WSS site as well as bushcraftusa.com are great resources.
 
skab8541 said:
To me skills are far more valuable then gear. Or knowing how to make/acquire what you need. With that said I would say this WSS site as well as bushcraftusa.com are great resources.
Click to expand...

Understood and appreciate the input.
Now, try and explain to a wife that does not like outdooors exactly why we need this stuff and she needs to get out in the wild for some practice runs, just in case :)

Its a tuff nut to crack :D
 
For the inexperienced person such as your wife, the gear can sometimes provide the initial comfort zone to get into the mindset without the same degree of fear or worry. I advocate buying what you think you'll need and weeding it out as you progress. Also, I'm a gear junky so I tend to enjoy over-engineered stuff :p
 
Ya know a short time in the woods to gather materials can lead to a lot of time in the backyard working on skills. Whether it be firecraft, making cordage, carving, and so forth. Have you ever tried geocaching? It can be a great way to practice land nav/gps use and a way to get someone slow introduced to being outside. Just trying to give ya somethings to get the wife into it. I started my wife on geocaching in town and then moved it to the woods and she loves it now.
 
From my experience, start with some good backpacking sites (REI, Campmor, Backcountry Gear, MEC, etc.). I would plan more for a backpacking set up, but I would focus your outdoors time at some decent car-camping places. This is a great way to maintain a decent comfort level, yet initiate that outdoors experience. Car camping can quickly turn into a short backpacking trip to a more remote/less crowded area and eventually to longer trips to some very scenic areas...this is excllent "bug out" practice and training!

My wife loves campfire cooking and has her own recipie book; she loves starting the fire with her firesteel (using Vaseline Cottonballs though:D); has recently picked up the joy of fishing (even though she doesn't like eating fish!); and even though it's less romantic, is now packing her own hammock which makes her much more independent (and less weight on my back:D).

Skills are extremely important, but don't try the immersion method, you need to get her outdoors slowly and avoid the shock treatment that often turns people off and away. My wife now wants to attend a survival course with me of my choosing next year:thumbup:

ROCK6
 
I never had the opportunities to go camping or adventuring as a child so now that I'm pushing 30 I've decided to give it a go. My friends are all stuck at home playing Xbox so until I can convince them to join me I go on my own which is surprisingly relaxing.

So far I've learned a few good lessons about being underprepared, especially for cold nights. I've got plenty of gear, probably too much gear truth be told but I enjoy going car camping and testing stuff out, seeing what works and what doesn't.

I'm hoping to start hiking soon once I know I've got enough experience and confidence that I'll be confortable.
 
TheBishop said:
Understood and appreciate the input.
Now, try and explain to a wife that does not like outdooors exactly why we need this stuff and she needs to get out in the wild for some practice runs, just in case :)

Its a tuff nut to crack :D
Click to expand...

A lot of the beginning gear can be found used or improvised (scavenger/treasure hunt). No need to buy the latest/greatest super-titanium getchabys. Practice doesn't require you to go to the wilderness for days on end. Some things can be tried out well in the back yard, garage, or a nearby park.

Get familiar and comfortable with the gear and it's use first, using what is inexpensive and readily available (yardsale, flea market, secondhand store, Wallyworld). Then you will know what to upgrade and why. And, best case, nothing happens and you haven't invested a ton of money. Worst case and you do need the gear, you will have upgraded and your intro kit makes a good spare for a friend or relative caught unaware. Or for yourself if your new improved top notch kit grows legs.
 
TheBishop said:
Understood and appreciate the input.
Now, try and explain to a wife that does not like outdooors exactly why we need this stuff and she needs to get out in the wild for some practice runs, just in case :)

Its a tuff nut to crack :D
Click to expand...

You don't need you and the wife to get "out in the wild" per se to initiate your skills. You can do the basics at home to begin with, working up to day hikes with gear in tow. Campgrounds are also a great way to practice survival skills in a comfortable environment.
 
Appreciate the input guys.
Its a combo of wanting to have the truck ready for the SHTF possibility, along with wanting to get out, as I've never "camped" and nothing on the tube anymore or indoors that's so compelling.

With the wife, can be tricky, she is not willingly gonna be away from a bathroom, and not the 5-gal bucket type :)

I'm the cook in the house, so figure even some closeby day trips, there's places near to me, close to the car, car can get to the can, some cooking gear, with the ability to gather our own fuel and fire it up. Start out that way, like ROCK6 suggested, car-camping.

Then a small tent and bags and build up from there.
Nothing fancy, just good solid stuff that will wear well.

Fall am planning on getting buggy passes for the NJ shore as I surf fish, so it will all come in handy for overnights on the surf, and will need to be able to stay warm so I'll be half way there I figure. If I can tool up to be able to go overnight in the cold November surf, should be good for a bugout :)
 
:D manventureoutpost.com has a lot of camping equipment. They also carry a lot of different brands. I have ordered from them often.:D
 
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