Dried and cured meat has been a survival staple since man discovered fire. Over time we’ve perfected it for taste and longevity, using high-tech industrial dehydrators and plenty of preservatives to have the commercially available jerky we have today. While it’s far from perfect, the best beef jerky can last years in a survival kit, bug out bag, or even a glove compartment. There are many brands and types of jerky to consider. This is where we come in. We’ve broken down the ingredient and shelf life data on widely available beef jerky and then given them all a good old-fashioned taste-testing ..read more

Fire is one of the core survival resources that makes many parts of the world remotely habitable. Its incredible versatility lets you cook food, purify water, light areas, warm your body, and commune with others. With a little know-how and the right fire-starting gear, you’ll be able to make fire at will for all of your survival needs. Despite its survival applications and beauty, it can also be deadly and dangerous in untrained hands. The destructive power of fire shows off its range from firearms to house fires and wildfires. Regardless, survival requires that you know how to create fire and ..read more

Situational awareness is just understanding what is going on around you. Prepper situational awareness involves understanding potential threats, how you are positioned against them, and how to avoid or mitigate them. Situational awareness (sometimes abbreviated SA) is earned with practice and wisdom, yet it can still be taught. When you find yourself complacent, you slowly lose it. If you follow the basics, you slowly improve it. If you focus on situational awareness too much, you can even be counterproductive. Contents (Jump to a Section) Levels of Situational Awareness OODA Loop Predictio ..read more

You can get anything by subscription these days: food, hygiene products, and you guessed it- survival gear. ‘Survival gear’ is a broad term that encompasses tactical, outdoors, knives, firearms- many types of gear can be focused on. And it turns out that there are good subscription boxes for all of them. Here are the 10 best survival subscription boxes that are worth checking out (plus some honorable mentions and a few editor’s picks). Subscription boxes continue to grow every year. Forbes noted that subscription box revenue almost doubled between 2021 and 2022, so it’s safe to say this conven ..read more

Tarp, tarpaulin, or polytarp. You’re more than likely familiar with tarps. Everyone has used them for at least one of their many functions: to cover a trailer, haul a pile of leaves, etc. What separates a regular tarp from a survival tarp is toughness, reliability, and portability- in some cases. In other cases, a regular tarp will work just fine in a survival situation. Still, it never hurts to be prepared with the best equipment for the job. There are several options to consider when it comes to tarps: brands, weights, size, etc. This is where we come in. We’ve researched the best tarps, tes ..read more

Sometimes, a typical bug out bag just isn’t enough. And a home survival kit is not mobile enough. Enter the INCH Bag. Designed for long-term and long-distance survival, self-reliance skills are stressed to help you meet your goal. Using experience and survival gear together can give you the edge to last indefinitely away from home. You’ll need a big bag and the best gear to permanently bug out. Like any survival kit, an INCH kit can be personalized to your abilities and situation. The bags we show are my own and the gear we show is suggested- not essential, for the most part. Essential gear ov ..read more

A good pocket bellows can be a godsend if you are trying to start a fire in poor conditions. By injecting a steady flow of air (and oxygen) into the core of the embers you can quickly get a fire going or even make an existing fire burn hotter. The best pocket bellows can be difficult to find since there are a few types but many different brands. This is where we come in. We’ve researched the best pocket bellows, tested them, and now the results are in: the overall best, a budget option, and an upgrade fire bellows option. If you need to push some airflow to stoke a fire, one of our picks will ..read more

Diversion safes look like ordinary household objects, like soda cans, books, and personal care items- but they all have hidden compartments where you can store valuables discretely. If you pick the correct diversion safe, it can be nearly impossible for a burglar or thief to find it unless they are aware that you have one to begin with. Many of these disguised hiding places can go undetected if you make them blend in well enough and provide an inexpensive, discrete solution when compared with floor safes. Misdirection can be a powerful strategy when it comes to security or just keeping nosy pe ..read more

Hatchet, knife, or saw? All three are important in survival kits, but the humble saw is often overlooked. A good saw will let you trim limbs to make a shelter or clear debris after a disaster. The best survival saw will let you do all of this with less energy and without worrying about the saw breaking. Aggressive teeth, rock-solid durability, and a lightweight small profile are all hallmarks of folding saws primed for survival. There are several options to consider when it comes to survival saws: blade type, size, durability, etc. This is where we come in. We’ve researched the best survival s ..read more

Not all coffee goes stale quickly in the pantry. Survival coffee is ground coffee that has been flash-frozen and freeze-dried to extend the shelf life to decades. If you are like us, and dependent on coffee to stay focused and functional, having an emergency stockpile of coffee is easier than ever. The bad news is that there are several brands and types to pick from. This is where we come in. We’ve researched the best coffee for survival, tested them, and now the results are in: the overall best, an upgrade option, and one packing some serious caffeine. If you need some reliable caffeine in yo ..read more