In survivalist mode
Holiday tips for your serious disaster prepper
NEW YORK There are survivalists ready to keep themselves alive for months with nothing more than a plastic fork (perhaps an exaggeration), then there’s a greater universe of preppers who might need some help with bug-out gear come the end of the world. Some ideas:
THE ZOMBIE KNIFE
Which mega-knife to pack is a highly personal prepper decision, one that your average harried holiday gifter may not understand or have time to deepdive research. In the alternative, choose nice-looking with good reviews from those in the know online and go for an accompanying sheath to fancy up the offering.
A fun name is a plus, such as the Zombie Tinder Survivor 1 at US$210, handmade in the U.S. It has an exceptionally sharp choil, or the section of the blade next to the handle, according to the makers at Zombietinder.com. That part, the company declares, is good for cutting rope, limbing small trees, splitting the rib cage of large game and making fuzz sticks for fire starting.
WATER, WATER, WATER
It’s used by NATO, the U.S. military and the Red Cross, according to Filtersfast.com. It’s the free-standing, hand-operated and high-capacity Katadyn Expedition KFT Water Filter System — and it’s a beaut from the Swiss company at $1,499.95.
Water, in the event of disaster, is liquid gold, the same colour as this sleek system.
The Katadyn can steadily filter large quantities of water. The maker promises that its Katadyn 1040 KFT ceramic filters remove bacteria, cysts, algae, protozoa, sediment, dirt, spores, some viruses and other disease-causing agents down to 0.2 microns, also taking care of any radioactive particles.
Widely available.
THE COOL GUY BUG- OUT BAG
Heading into the great unknown doesn’t have to mean unattractive. The Seventy2 kit comes highly rated, fully loaded and it’s DARN cool at $449.78.
It’s called that because it’s designed to get one through the first crucial 72 hours of a crisis. It’s also inspirational, with handy advice right on the bag: “Slow is smooth and smooth is fast,” as in don’t freak out.
There’s a backpack within the backpack for double duty. Supply pockets are colour-coded and stuffed with Datrex food bars, water filtration and storage bladders, first aid, tools and wilderness electronics.
Plastic interior panels with holes can be used as splints or snowshoes, laced with some of the 100 feet (30 metres) of red paracord provided. The whole shebang: 11.4 pounds (5.17 kg).
UP LIKE A TENT, STRONG AS A BUNKER
Planning to survive in place or take shelter in the wilderness?
Several dome home designs are available at Intershelter.com. Intended for disaster, the military and other uses, including a solution for the homeless, these fibreglass composite shelters are pre-drilled with bolt holes, quick to assemble, and they’re small enough in pieces to fit into the bed of a pickup truck.
They’re built to sustain hurricane-strength winds and large enough for an entire family.
The Juneau, Alaska, company offers price quotes online, depending on what size, insulation, flooring and window options are chosen.
Lots of colours for one’s dome are available: bright yellow or hot pink, anyone?
Base prices range from US$7,500 to US$12,500.