Table of contents for February/March #65 2025 in RECOIL OFFGRID

Spend enough time wandering the web looking up topics regarding disaster or emergency preparedness, and eventually you’ll run into terms like “bug out,” “bugging out,” or “bug out bag.” To the uninitiated, the concept of bugging out, or building a bug-out bag might be a little overwhelming, since these terms can mean many different things to different people. Although some people perceive bugging out as only necessary for an end-of-the-world apocalyptic situation, this is not the case — a well-stocked bug-out bag is a practical tool that can help you and your family through a variety of real situations. So, we've created a bug-out bag list of the most essential gear you'll need for a wide range of emergencies. But before we dive into some of the nuances, let’s explore…

Emergency evacuation, often termed bugging out, is a hugely popular topic in prepper and survivalist circles. As with many areas of preparedness, people tend to focus on the gear more than anything else. Lists abound of what you should have in your bug-out bag. That’s just one element of the overall equation, though. There are four components to a proper bug-out or evacuation plan. • When to leave • Where to go • How to get there • What to bring with you While they’re all important, that first one is arguably the most critical. If you don’t time it right, the rest of those elements may not matter a whole lot. Now, the interesting thing here is that all of those elements are applicable in virtually any evacuation scenario.…

Quasi-tactical buzzwords like low vis, low pro, and reduced signature get thrown around constantly in the preparedness and self-defense space, as ways to describe the concept of carrying a lot of gear on you in a manner that does not portray what you’re carrying. What we’re about to cover is a thought exercise in low visibility carry. This is not intended to represent a sample EDC. In fact, you can be absolutely positive that nobody will wear the following configuration every day. Or most days. Or any day, unless your job requires you to work in places where car bombs and assassination attempts are a routine occurrence. Our intention here is two-fold. The first is to showcase some products we’ve come across in the last several months, or have been…

It’s easily one of the most common debates among those who contemplate emergency preparedness: should one bug-out — moving to a potentially safer location — or bugin — sheltering in place, because leaving would be even more dangerous. Typically, the answer is always, it depends. This is because conditions and circumstances can differ dramatically between every situation. If being issued evacuation orders before a hurricane, tsunami, or wildfire, it’s the wise choice to move out of harm’s way. Someone receiving an imminent tornado warning will seek shelter inside, hopefully in or near their own residence. But there are more ambiguous situations, where making the choice to stay or go is less clear. And those hazy situations have been occurring with increased frequency. Over the past several years, several highprofile cyberattacks…

According to laws just passed in Congress, the government has mandated that you now must carry a tracking device, so they can monitor your every movement, what you’re buying and thinking about, and everyone you associate with. And they want you to pay for it. Hey, if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear, right? Echoes of Orwell’s dystopian 1984, much? OK, so the government didn’t actually make this a legal requirement. But what’s worse is that we’ve all voluntarily opted in to a surveillance society, and for the most part, any notion we may have had of privacy in our day-to-day affairs is dead. That smartphone you have in your hand or pocket right now is spying on you. What’s worse is you’re the one who…

Being a search-and-rescue volunteer can be as demanding (physically and mentally) as it is rewarding, but having quality equipment designed to help you out in that role can certainly make it easier. In the wilderness, it’s imperative that you have easy access to your most important tools and equipment across preparedness domains to reduce the chances that you become a casualty yourself while you’re helping others. A good chest rig excels in keeping your most critical gear in your workspace while keeping your hands free as needed. One very fine option, and my personal favorite is the Hill People Gear SAR Kit Bag, specifically the full-size version 2. The Bag The bag itself is constructed from 500d Cordura nylon, with an internal volume of 215.63 cubic inches. It is largely…

An engineer, municipal worker, and a teacher walk into a campsite. No, this is not the setup to a joke, it’s a testament to the range of people with diverse backgrounds who came from all over the country to participate in the PNW Survival Games. In the heart of Oregon’s rugged wilderness, the Games offers a unique blend of education, competition, and camaraderie. This event, held this year at the scenic Hipcamp in Molalla Ripple, invited participants from all walks of life to test their survival skills in a series of intense, hands-on challenges. With nearly 40 contestants, esteemed judges from popular survival TV shows like Alone and Naked and Afraid, and experts from well-known survival training companies, the event offered a unique opportunity for anyone interested in honing their…

A flashlight is one of the most useful items you can add to your vehicle, but simply tossing one into the glovebox or center console isn’t always ideal. In those locations, it may end up rolling around and getting buried under other items you’ll have to rummage through. More importantly, you’ll have to remember to charge or replace its batteries periodically, otherwise Murphy’s Law says the batteries will be dead when you really need a light (ask us how we know). So, how can you guarantee you have a flashlight that’s always within arm’s reach and always fully charged? That’s the problem we set out to solve by installing a hardwired Maglite ML150LR in our 2022 4Runner project truck. About the Flashlight If you grew up in the ’80s or…

In the realm of survival tools, few items are as essential as a reliable, compact firearm. Dark Mountain, a veteranowned company, has designed the Stowaway Rifle and Pistol to meet the needs of outdoor enthusiasts, survivalists, and anyone looking for lightweight, packable firearms. These single-shot firearms aren’t just ultralight — they’re adaptable, suppressor-ready, and easy to break down for transportation. Fortunately, we got our hands on these to explore the features, practical applications, and real-world performance of the Stowaway series of firearms. The standout feature of the Dark Mountain Stowaway Rifle is its packable design. With a barrel length of 16 inches, the rifle can be taken down into two parts, reducing its total length to less than 17 inches. This makes it ideal for packing into backpacks during long…

“The final weapon is the brain, all else is supplemental.”– John Steinbeck Getting started in the world of firearms can be overwhelming. Sure, there are countless videos, blogs, and books out there, but there are also a lot of conflicting opinions, and sadly, a great deal of misinformation. Fortunately, I was advised to check out Modern Samurai Project (MSP), a business with a world-class lead instructor who prides himself in getting shooters who are new to red-dot-equipped pistols up to speed quickly. And, as fortune would have it, MSP founder and lead instructor Scott Jedlinski was headed to the nearby Richmond Rod and Gun Club to teach his flagship class: Red Dot Pistol Fundamentals and Performance. When I first signed up for Scott’s two-day class, I wasn’t entirely sure what…