Kits: EDC

      My first post in the kit series is about my suggested EDC (or everyday carry) for New Yorkers.  It should not be confused with an ECB (everyday carry bag).  City living can get a bit hectic at times, and we don’t always feel like carrying around a pack or purse.  For example, when you go out to dinner, go see a movie, or go to the gym.  Sometimes you’re in a hurry and just want the bare essentials with you.

      This is a list of everyday carry items that have multiple purposes, and I would suggest you never leave the house without them.  They should even be on you when you go to the local deli for a quick bite, or when you step out to Starbucks for five minutes to get some coffee.  The idea behind this kit is that you have basic survival equipment on your body at all times (compass, signaling devise, fire making, small light, cordage, knife), while looking just like every other New Yorker walking the streets.

• Smart cell phone - These are the modern day electronic Swiss Army knives.  It serves super multi-duty as phone, camera, notebook, voice recorder, music player and GPS.  They are becoming cheaper by the day, and since they have so many functions you can actually save money just by buying one piece of equipment for most of your electronic needs.  I own an iPhone, which I highly recommend if you can afford it, or are with AT&T.  Remember to always keep it charged.  You should also put an “in case of emergency” contact number sticker on you, and your family member’s, phones.
• Keys (Link to my EDC key-chain post.)
• Wallet (Link to my EDC wallet post.)
• Pocket knife - There are tons of options here.  I carry around a Leatherman Charge TTi multi-tool and can suggest it, though it's a bit bulky on your belt.  I have a smaller Swiss Army knife when I want to be more discrete.  You need to be careful carrying a knife in NYC because the laws are a bit vague i.e. a knife is not suppose to have a point...  One thing is sure about knife laws in NYC though, the blade can not be over four inches long.  When carrying a knife use common sense; don't pull it out in plain view of "sheeple"...  I mean people (tends to scare them.)  If a police officer asks you about it, tell him it's for work in a friendly, submissive tone.  You can keep the knife in your ECB if you don't want to have one on your person, though I suggest always having a blade of some sort on you at all times.

      The Swiss Army Fieldmaster is not the lightest knife they offer, but it has a useful saw blade that I prefer.

• Para-cord bracelet - Having 10 feet or so of 550 para-cord on you at all times is real nice.  On top of that, they are quite fashionable.  Here is a site that explains how to make one yourself.  You can find different ways to make these if you do a Google search for "how-to make a para-cord bracelet".  I like to have the button on mine as the link demonstrates.  You can also place this in your ECB.  Here is a link to one that is cheap on Amazon, and some good quality Para-cord;
 

• Basic survival necklace - A necklace that has some survival applications to it.  Here is a link to my post explaining it.

     Here are some links to sites that have more info on suggested EDC if you want to do some research yourself:


The Everyday Carry Forums or EDC Forums:  Great site with reviews, and useful information.


Code Name Insight Blog:  My favorite blog, and I reference it often.  Linked are a few posts on his everyday carry.


Surviving In Argentina Blog:  This guy survived the economic collapse of Argentina, (a major city) and most of his posts and info will apply to us if we suffer the same fate in America.  The link is his EDC labeled posts.

New Post Series "Kits"

      My new series of posts; "Kits" is going to explain to you the gear, and kits that I suggest you put together to help with disasters, big or small .  Being a bit of a "gear head" myself, I could go on for days about gear I would prefer to have for all the possible situations that come my way.  One of the first things to understand about gear is that it is considered a bonus.  We can carry around all the best knives, rope and the most well thought out EDC gear, (everyday carry) but if you don’t know how to use these things, they are pointless.  Gear is nothing without knowledge.  Then you have to consider the fact that when you start to get this gear together it is only as good as the commitment to carry it.  You can have the greatest gear ever made, but if it’s not on you, that's a problem.  You should always try to remember that there is still a chance that the one day you decide not to be as prepared and leave your water bottle or pocket knife home, because life is just too crazy that day, everything goes to hell.   Even if it’s not a total SHTF event, it may still be the day you get stuck in an elevator for four hours, or you’re caught in the subway for an hour.   In Manhattan, there are little “disasters” everyday, most of us have become somewhat accustomed to them.  A few key items would alleviate much of the stress that you would get out of these smaller situations.   How much better would it be to have a few dried pieces of fruit on you, or some trail mix, not to mention some water?  You have to ask yourself, how much space would these items really take?  The answer is; not much at all.  This is just an example of a few small items that can make a world of difference.

     Gear in our urban setting is a bit different from say preparing to go on hike in the bush. The city offers a different set of obstacles in the short term.  You don’t have to walk down the street in hiking boots, and a full 5000 cubic inch backpack.   Blending in is key.  You want to look just as fashionable and “normal” as everyone else going on there day to day business.  Any difference draws attention, which is really unwanted in any circumstance in New York City.   If your co-workers carry briefcases to work every day, then you put your gear in a briefcase.   It’s the same with backpacks and purses.  The kit's I will be suggesting can be modified to your preference.  Most people's kit differ slightly, these are the fundamental items I suggest that are the most efficient and useful to handle most possible disaster's in NYC.

     My first post in the series is going to be about what I suggest for EDC (or Everyday Carry).  I am planning on having it put together by tomorrow.  I am also putting together a new Bare Minimum post, so stay tuned...

Company Review: Shelf Reliance

     My first post for "Company Review" is going to be about one of the best long-term food preparation online business's I have found; Shelf Reliance.  Their site has tons of preparation resources on it, like emergency survival kits, but the one that stands out above all, is their canned food system.  They use #10 cans (or coffee cans; big, gallon sized cans) to store food that has been either dehydrated, or freeze dried, giving foods a shelf life of anywhere from 5 to 25 years!  They have all food groups including meat, and fruit.  What really sets the company apart though, is their THRIVE Q, which lets you build a customized food storage plan divided by a monthly budget.  So, for example, if I set up a monthly budget of $50, they will go through my THRIVE Q and send me however many cans equaling $50 for that month.

     Other than offering great long-term food storage options, Shelf Reliance goes a step above giving you recipes (video and text), and reviews (from customers).  Best of all, they are reasonably priced, and their Q system allows you to slowly build your long-term food supplies over time, not forcing you to spend a lot of money at once.  

     One problem I had is that the cans came dented, though I don't blame them for that.  If you are concerned about dented cans, you shouldn't be.  Dented cans are safe for the most part, though it can drop the shelf life of a product by a few years.  Either way, here is a quick article about how to tell if a dented can is safe to consume. 

     For our small NYC apartments, food storage may be a problem, but I find a little ingenuity goes a long way.  I live in a small studio, and have always found ways to store food and water all over my apartment while keeping the apartment livable.  I also do my best to keep my supplies out of site, making sure my apartment looks no different then any typical New Yorkers, as to not draw any unwanted attention from my buildings maintenance/management.  

     It's up to you how much or how little you decide to cache in your apartment.  I suggest no less than a months worth of food per person, or a few #10 cans covering all basic food needs (carbohydrates, protein, fat).  Most disaster scenarios, typically, do not last more than 72 hours, or so they say (tell that to Hurricane Katrina Victims).  I feel that if there was a major disaster, like a category 4 Hurricane in NYC, we would have to support ourselves, and those we love, longer than 72 hours.  The cities fragile infrastructure, and the amount of people that reside here would ensure a long recovery process.  I personally try to supply at least a years worth of food for me and my loved ones.  
  
      As per Shelf Reliance's recommendation, I cook at home with my stored food on a day to day basis as to rotate my stock and learn fun, enjoyable recipes.  This saves me loads of money as I don't "daily shop" my meals at expensive stores like D'Agostino's and Whole Foods.

     Companies like Shelf Reliance can help you take the guess work out of preparation, teaching you how to become a master prepper.  Beyond prep, it can help you live a satisfying, self-sufficient New York life style.

Music or Podcast?

healingdream-freedigitalphotos.net

     I am a fan of music, and have been for as long as I can remember.  Anything from jazz, to punk rock, you name it, I have probably listened to it at some point in my life.  I was never a big radio person, and in fact, have owned some sort of music player since they have been on the market, preferring my personal play lists, over music and talk radio.  That was until recently.  I started to find while I research info for my book and blog, I wanted to fill my down time (things like commuting, jogs, work-outs) with productive learning.  It occurred to me one day, while reading over one of the many survival blogs I follow, that there is an alternative to music and radio; podcast's.  Podcast's have an advantage over talk radio, because they are not as restricted, and typically don't have commercials.  You as a listener have an advantage, because you can pick and choose what topics are interesting and subscribe to it.  I own an iPhone, which makes subscribing to a podcast extremely easy, and gives me many different shows to choose from.  I am finding podcasts perfect for me right now, as I'm focused on learning, and hungry for knowledge.  Podcast's allow me to fill in as much info into my day as possible.

     One of my favorite podcasts out there right now is The Survival Podcast, and I definitely suggest you look it up.  The creator, Jack Spirko, has been doing the podcast since 2008, and has about 500 episodes released.  The podcast also has a YouTube channel here with some useful videos.  Jack releases new episodes daily, so you can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and just listen to the new stuff.  If you like the show, you can find back episodes on his website.  I have been listing to TSP for a few months, and I'm now slowly catching up on his previous episodes.  There is a ton of information on these shows about survival, homesteading, gardening, and a bunch of other useful things that most modern survivalists (and people) should know.  Happy Learning!

Quick Pick: Underwear

     Clothing is considered gear and is one of the most important things to have on you, (Even though I doubt you ever leave the house without it!) second only to knowledge.  During the summer months it gives you protection from the sun and insects.   In winter, it helps keep you protected from snow, and the biting cold.  Clothing is also essential to personal comfort.  The human body of modern “clothed” man is conditioned to handle tropical temperatures of around seventy to one hundred degrees.  Any variation can lead to hypothermia or heat exhaustion.  Knowing how to dress properly for the right climate can make a bad situation a bit easier to deal with.   Using the proper fabric in layers is the key to controlling a micro-climate around your body. 

     Today's Quick Pick is underwear designed for warm weather, or activities.  (I will get into long-underwear base layers when we are closer to the cold seasons.)  The idea of this base layer is to wick (Here is a great article on base layers, and explains wicking very well) the sweat away from your skin.  This allows your skin to breath and stay dry by dispersing your sweat into the air.  Wicking materials also dry extremely quick, making them much more comfortable to be in.  Wicking fabrics like polyester and nylon are found in many performance clothing these days, and have definitely put materials like cotton to shame.  Socks and underwear are perfect candidates for wicking fabrics during the warmer months of the year here in the city.

     

     These are ideal for those of you that are used to wearing boxer briefs, or when you need a bit more coverage.  ExOfficio makes well made, reasonably priced clothing.  I own a few pairs of their underwear, and though they show a little bit of wear from use, they still hold up, and are durable.

     The next pair that I suggest are briefs with a sport cut.  They are low rise, making them much more fashionable for all the low cut jeans and pants that are in style right now.  They also have excellent support.

     Next is from my favorite clothing company right now Patagonia.  They make great clothing, and are a very ecologically responsible company.  I don't own a pair of these yet, but plan on trying them out in the near future.

     Here we have a pair I suggest for active women.

     I hand-wash my underwear for the most part, finding that I can own fewer pairs.  This way I can go longer between laundry loads, saving money and causing less of an environmental impact.  Here is the soap I use to wash my wicking base layers, and the hand washer with bucket I prefer to use. 

Rock Climbing

     I have mentioned it briefly in a previous post, and would like to give a bit more detail about one of my new hobbies; rock climbing.  A few months ago I starting to crave more out of my work-outs and was finding trips to the gym boring.  A good friend of mine suggested a trip to a huge indoor rock climbing gym in Brooklyn called Brooklyn Boulders.  We went, and I was hooked by the first day.  I attended the belaying coarse, and literally "learned the ropes".  The survival applications of learning how to properly belay became evident to me instantly.  Belaying teaches you how to work with rope and teaches a few basic knots.  It is excellent for people that are; afraid of heights, not agile, or those that do not have a lot of upper body strength.  It's safe for all, and I recommend you bring children, as they tend to have lots of fun and are naturally good at it.

     The second part of climbing in a place like Brooklyn Boulders is something called bouldering.  It can be a bit more challenging then belaying, but the rewards are great.  You don't use the ropes like you do in belaying to support you while climbing the wall.  Instead you "free climb" the route without any assistance.  The walls are not too high, about 15 feet in most spots, and if you fall, there are thick mats underneath to cushion your drop.  I find bouldering challenging and fun as you get excited about finally finishing lines that you previously found impossible.  Similar to a game of chess, you plot out the possible moves to climb up a route, then seeing if your body has the ability to perform the moves.  If consistent, you can build your strength and endurance up in a much different way your body is used to helping you to achieve completion of some of the harder grades.  

*Survivalist Alert* The strength you build in your hands and upper-body have important self-defense implications.  As anyone who practices martial arts will tell you, finger and hand strength can help in a fight for your life scenario.  Making the ability to debilitate your opponent with shots to the vitals, (eyes, neck, ears, groin) much more devastating.

     So if you are like me, and find your gym membership suffering, give climbing a try.  The rates are very reasonable, and the learning curve is not as steep as it seems (no pun intended).  After a few times, you can try your hand at some outdoor climbing as there are a few premiere climbing destinations not far from the city.  Places like The Gunks are considered some of the best climbing on the east coast.  While visiting The Gunks, you can check out some of the campgrounds for a weekend camping trip.  Below, I put a few items from Amazon I use for climbing.  Shop around, you can probably get better prices, and if you are looking to buy shoes, (You can rent them at Brooklyn Boulders if you were curious) make sure to try them on before you decide.  The people at EMS are very knowledgeable and can help you find the right pair.