Don’t Waste Money on These Emergency Supplies
We talk a lot about emergency supplies you should have on hand for when a crisis situation develops. We even provide extensive lists of these items from time to time.
I think it’s about time we tell you which supplies you should NOT waste your money on.
Because every supply you purchase that won’t do you much good represents money you could have spent on something that could do you plenty of good.
Not to mention the fact that those unnecessary items take up valuable space in your storage area or bug-out bag.
Limit your single-use items
The first things I’d look at when seeking to avoid unnecessary emergency supplies are single-use items. The more different uses you can get out of a single item, the better. (Later I’ll mention 10 great multi-purpose items.)
On the contrary, single-use items such as regular, disposable batteries are a waste of money and space.
Other types of items I keep out of my emergency supplies are those that are not weatherproof. A bug-out situation will require spending more time outdoors than normal. You don’t want too many items that will require staying dry to work.
Additional things to stay away from when it comes to stockpiling supplies for a crisis are those that require more supplies to function. A great example is a gas-powered generator. Gas is not only heavy to transport, but also can be dangerous.
Avoid these money and space wasters
What are some other supply items you shouldn’t waste money on, for one reason or another? Here are a few:
Mass quantities of paper products. Yes, it’s good to have a decent supply of toilet paper, paper towels, paper plates, etc. But stockpiling tons of those items in anticipation of stores running out is probably a waste of money. And it’s unlikely you’ll be able to use them for bartering.
Food with high sodium levels. Some food producers load up their food with lots of sodium. They do it for taste and preservation purposes. But in addition to not being good for you, that sodium is going to make you thirsty. Which means you’ll need even more water than you planned on.
Non-solar electronic devices. The electric grid is often the first casualty when it comes to an emergency caused by extreme weather or other problems. You want to have electronics with solar panels so you can recharge them with the free power of the sun instead of watching them die a slow death.
Water in large containers. You’ve seen those five and 10-gallon containers, right? They’re nice to look at but virtually impossible for most people to transport. If you suddenly have to bug out, you’ll have to leave all that life-giving water behind. Stick to containers the average person can carry. Even a gallon of water is heavy.
Too many canned goods. I don’t think it’s a bad idea to have some canned food and beverages in your emergency supplies. The shelf life is not nearly as long as survival food, but canned items can sustain you for a while. However, they usually contain a lot of sodium and again, if you have to bug out, they can be very heavy to transport in larger quantities.
10 multi-use items
I mentioned that multi-use items are important to include in your emergency supplies. Here are a few you might consider adding to your stockpile, as well as some of their surprising uses:
Aluminum foil. Blade sharpener, meat wrapper, trail marker, grill cleaner, keep tinder dry.
Baby powder. Grease stain remover, ant repellent, deodorant, dry skin soother, shoe freshener.
Baking soda. Brush your teeth, eliminate smells, bug repellent, gain traction, pain reliever.
Bandanas. Handkerchief, washcloth, forehead protector, tourniquet, cordage, blindfold, dog collar.
Honey. Digestion aid, energy booster, inflammation reducer, splinter remover, wound treatment.
Lip balm. Blister soother, sunscreen, knife rust preventer, glass cleaner, zipper lubricator.
Plastic grocery bags. Insulation, trail marking, food storage, trash holder, wet item separator.
Rechargeable batteries. The function of the batteries doesn’t change but the list of items you can power is endless.
Steel wool. Fire starter, garden tool cleaner, scissors sharpener, screw tightener, rust remover.
Super Glue. Fix broken knife grip, water bottle sealer, skin repair, backpack strap repair, cordage strengthener.
Unusual Ways to Use Aluminum Foil for Survival
Why is one side of aluminum foil shiny and the other dull? This is one of the great mysteries of our time.
OK, not really. But there is definitely confusion about it. Some people believe foil keeps heat out better when meat is wrapped with the shiny finish facing out. And heat is kept in better with the shiny finish facing inward.
Interesting theory, but not factual. Actually, both sides function identically. Aluminum foil has a shiny side and a matte side due to how it is rolled during production and packaging.
Because it’s difficult to produce rollers with a gap fine enough to cope with the small gauge of foil, two sheets are rolled at the same time for the final production pass. This doubles the thickness of the gauge at entry to the rollers.
When the sheets are separated later, the inside surface is dull and the outside surface is shiny.
11 weird usages
Far more important than which side of aluminum foil is touching your food is how versatile it can be. Especially when it comes to our preparedness plans.
Here are 11 unusual uses for aluminum foil. With a focus on food preparation, eating and after-meal cleanup.
- Don’t have a pot to boil water? Line a hole in the ground with foil and fill it with water. Use tongs to pull rocks from a campfire and transfer them into the water. The water should soon boil.
- Digging an even deeper hole and lining it with aluminum foil will allow you to collect rainwater if your water supply is low.
- Keep matches and tinder dry by wrapping them tightly in foil.
- If you find yourself needing to fish but you have no bait, wrap aluminum foil around the weights. It can act as a flashing lure to attract fish.
- Find a branch that forks, stretch foil across it and wrap the foil around the branches to make a makeshift pan to hold over a fire.
- Shape a sheet of foil into a cone, tape it securely together and use as a makeshift funnel. It is especially good for transferring oil into smaller containers. And there is no cleanup afterward.
- To transfer hot coals to another campsite without burning yourself, fill a sheet of aluminum foil with shredded bark. Use tongs to place a hot coal onto the bark, then roll the foil around it as you would a cigar. Leave one end open to let air in.
- If your water bottle has a crack in it, use sticky pine sap and a strip of aluminum foil to patch it.
- Using a thick wad of aluminum foil so as not to cut yourself, rub the foil up and down the blade of a knife to sharpen it for cutting meat.
- After grilling, use a ball of foil to scrub the burned food bits off the grill.
- Clean silverware in a shallow pan lined with foil. Add two or three tablespoons of baking soda and boiling water, then drop in tarnished silverware.
4Patriots Sun Kettle
Even if the power is out, many of those aluminum foil uses can come in handy. And if you want to see a weird way to cook food in a thermos, click [here].
By watching the video, you’ll learn that the 4Patriots Sun Kettle is an easy, convenient and effective way to boil water outdoors.
So you can heat water for cooking and coffee. And get rid of pathogens and other harmful microorganisms.
It’s also very useful for making hygiene comfortable when you’re outdoors. You can prep a warm washcloth bath.
If you find yourself without any water in the winter, you could even use it to melt snow.
Hot water could also come in handy for first-aid. It would allow you to wash off a wound before bandaging it.
The Sun Kettle is compact and lightweight (2.6 pounds). But it’s built tough to withstand bumps and tumbles. You can even carry it in a backpack.
No batteries, electricity or fire are needed. The square base and kickstand have four points of contact to prevent tips and spills.
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You Know You Need an Emergency Radio… But Which One?
You’ve received a few emails from me in the past about emergency weather radios. The purpose was to tell you how important it is to have one handy. That’s why these radios are included in just about every bug-out bag list you’ve ever seen.
Based on how many of you have purchased the 4Patriots Liberty Band Emergency Solar Radio, I assume you don’t need any more convincing.
You realize that extreme weather is becoming more frequent and more violent. So, I’m not going to waste your time trying to convince you to add one to your survival stockpile.
But if you haven’t done so yet, I do want to provide some tips on what to look for in an emergency radio. Because there are many choices out there.
Say yes to NOAA
The first thing you should do when it comes time to select an emergency radio is make sure it’s a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radio.
Having access to critical information is key to surviving in any emergency. With a NOAA weather radio, you’re certain to receive timely information about weather threats in your area. Including evacuation routes and other breaking news.
These radios broadcast official National Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information 24/7. If you program your county’s six-digit code into it, a loud alarm will sound when dangerous weather approaches.
Some of these weather radios allow you to choose which particular alerts you want to receive. And which you don’t.
Plenty of charging options
OK, now you’re set with weather alerts. Is there anything else you need in an emergency radio? Yes, plenty.
Let’s start with how to keep it charged. A dead emergency radio is useless, so don’t choose one that gives you only one or two options.
You want a radio with a powerful battery inside. But you also want other ways to charge it.
Including plugging it into an outlet, exposing the radio’s solar panel to the sun and cranking it up by hand.
Power bank with a flashlight
Any of those options will keep your emergency radio charged. But you also want to have a radio that can “share the wealth.”
You may find yourself in a position where you need to charge your cellphone. Or a tablet, e-reader, camera, flashlight, cooling fan or another item. Select an emergency radio that can do all that.
There’s no guarantee you’ll have daylight when a weather emergency interrupts your life.
You may need to light your path. So, make sure your radio includes a bright flashlight.
Light, compact and durable… with extras
Other features you want in an emergency radio are just as practical. For example, you don’t want one that’s heavy. It would be a burden to carry in your hand or in a bag.
You also want a radio that’s compact yet durable. One that can take a few dings without getting damaged. And what about some extras the average person might not think about?
Choose an emergency radio that includes a sturdy metal clip so you can attach it to a backpack or belt loop. Select one that has a charging indicator so you always know how much juice it has. Pick one with an earphone jack so you can listen discreetly.
Finally, you want an emergency radio that’s priced right. If for no other reason than so you can buy several of them. For your home and vehicle, and even as gifts for loved ones.
My recommendation is…
The emergency radio I’m recommending will not be a surprise. I let the cat out of the bag back in the second paragraph.
And it might be difficult to believe, but every feature I mentioned as being important in an emergency radio is included in one radio – the 4Patriots Liberty Band Emergency Solar Radio.
Of course, this is not a coincidence. We started with the end in mind with this product. We made sure this tactical information hub features NOAA weather alerts, with seven 24/7 weather channels and AM/FM and shortwave radio.
We insisted it include an LCD display clock with alarm and an ultra-bright flashlight.
We made it lightweight with the ability to recharge with the power of the sun.
We added a hand crank for emergency starting. We even made sure that it could power up other devices when you need them most. Including your cellphone.
I feel like we’ve made the 4Patriots Liberty Band Emergency Solar Radio as desirable as we possibly can. But if you need any extra incentive, how’s this?
If you purchase three of them, I’ll knock a small amount off the price of each unit, provide you with free shipping, and toss in a few bonuses. Including a free Patriot Power Cell, a free HaloXT flashlight, a free 72-Hour Survival Food Kit and a free $25 gift certificate.
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Here’s Your Winter Camping Checklist
There are two kinds of campers in America. One can hardly wait until spring so they can start camping again after at least three months away from it.
The other kind of camper doesn’t care which season it is. Camping is a passion for them. They’ll camp in the winter just as often – and with as much enthusiasm – as they will in the spring, summer or fall.
Obviously, staying warm is a challenge with winter camping. But there are advantages to camping during this season. Including solitude, quiet, more unused camping locations and a lack of pesky bugs.
If you’re one of the latter group, or if you want to try winter camping for the first time, today I’m going to provide you with a checklist of items to include in your winter camping gear. And as I often do, I’m saving one of the most important items for last.
Staying warm… awake or asleep
First and foremost, include plenty of warm clothing. Focus on layers. That means t-shirts, flannel shirts, waterproof jackets and a water-resistant down coat. And plenty of extra long underwear and thick socks. Plus a warm hat.
Waterproof boots and gloves are also essentials, of course. Your sleeping bags will probably have down insulation. It’s more expensive but is lighter, lasts longer and compresses smaller.
Sleeping pads are also very important. They’ll put an extra layer between the cold ground and you. Many people prefer inflatable pads to foam pads.
Needless to say, you’ll want to include plenty of blankets and pillows. Do your best to keep them dry.
More essentials
Here are more items I haven’t mentioned yet. How many of these you take will depend on whether you’re roughing it or heading to a campground where some amenities are provided. It might also depend on how long you’ll be gone.
- Four-season tent, with footprints, stakes and mallet/hammer
- Ground cloth/tarp
- Backpack
- Headlamps, flashlights and extra batteries
- Camp table and chairs (if the site doesn’t have them)
- Lantern
- Snowshoes
- Toiletries
- First-aid kit including prescription meds
- Lip balm
- Sunglasses
- Bandanas
- Survival knife
- Multi-tool
- Duct tape
- Paracord or rope
- Saw or ax for cutting firewood
- Compass and GPS
- Binoculars
- Whistle
- Walkie-talkies
- NOAA emergency radio
- Disinfectant wipes
- Documents including vehicle registration, insurance, reservations, etc.
Food-related items
- Perishable food packed in a cooler or ice chest
- Non-perishable food for snacking
- Plenty of bottled water and other beverages
- Personal water purifier
- Fire starters
- Cooking, serving and eating utensils
- Cooking pots, pans, plates and cups
- Tongs and skewers
- Oven mitts
- Cutting board
- Canteen/thermos
- Coffee pot
- Can opener
- Heavy duty aluminum foil
- Dishwashing liquid and sponges
- Paper towels and napkins
- Tupperware
- Zip-top bags
- Trash and recycle bags
StarFire Camp Stove
As promised, I saved one of the most crucial winter camping items for the end. It’s the StarFire Camp Stove from 4Patriots.
When you need to cook food or stay warm without electrical power and without gas or butane, this is your best choice. Made of stainless steel, it “runs” on twigs and leaves, which you can find for free just about anywhere.
This low-smoke device turns cold food into hot meals. It boils water in eight to 12 minutes. It can also provide light and warmth. And since it weighs only about one pound, it fits in just about any backpack or bug-out bag. That’s portability.
Best of all, if you purchase four, you receive more than $270 in free gifts. Including the Patriot Power Cell, two 72-Hour Survival Food Kits, a Freedom Flame Flexible Arc Lighter and more. Not to mention an easy payment plan if you want it.
