Table of contents for February - March 2016 in RECOIL OFFGRID

Cover Photos: Jorge Nuñez; SDubi, Photobvious, matsou, P-Wei, olaser, aury1979, freestylephoto, alxpin/istockphoto.com 1 Respirator MAKE & MODEL Elmridge Protection iEvac Smoke Hood/Fire Hood MSRP $160 URL www.forgesurvivalsupply.com 2 Jacket MAKE & MODEL Propper Defender Halo II MSRP $210 URL www.propper.com 3 Pants MAKE & MODEL Wild Things LLC Hard Shell Pants FR GT MSRP $389 URL www.wildthingsgear.com 4 Gloves MAKE & MODEL Line of Fire Tactical Gloves Wookie MSRP $120 URL www.loftactical.com 5 Footwear MAKE & MODEL Under Armour UA Ridge Reaper Extreme Hunting Boots MSRP $225 URL www.underarmour.com 6 Tomahawk MAKE & MODEL RMJ Tactical Jenny Wren Tomahawk MSRP $425 URL www.rmjtactical.com 7 Flashlight MAKE & MODEL Fenix LS22 2015 Edition MSRP $55 URL www.fenixlight.com 8 Backpack MAKE & MODEL Red Rock Outdoor Gear mavriK U.45 MSRP $196 URL…

our eyes’ pupils dilate, or widen, in the dark to allow more light to enter, allowing us to see better. That’s what some people call our natural night vision. It takes a few moments for our eyes to adjust to darkness or brightness, so drastic changes in light levels can leave us seeing bright spots or nothing at all until our pupils can adjust. This is where multicolor flashlights can help us out. The most common colored lights are red, blue, and green. Each of these is “softer” and don’t affect our night vision as severely as white light. They are also less likely to be seen at distance, which is an advantage for those who wish to keep a low profile. Because red light appears less bright to the…

New York City is home to approximately 8.5-million people. On any given day, the city has only a three-day food supply if the bridges and tunnels are cut off and resupply trucks are not able to get in. As history has shown, when crisis hits a city, people flee. For the surrounding suburbs, the strain on resources will prove unsustainable. Fortunately, urban crises have a finite life span and people will eventually return — but what can be done until then? One option is to shelter in place and prepare for looting and civil unrest. Another option is leave the danger zone and return after things quiet down. Luckily for New Yorkers, just north of the Big Apple is the Adirondack State Park. It’s home to 6-million-square acres of rugged…

We could write a whole book on traditional bow marksmanship and aiming … and still not cover it all. But if you can stay alive long enough to get in lots of practice, you can learn a lot through observation and experience. So, to keep you alive that long (hopefully), here are the bare-bones basics. First, you’ll need to figure out your dominant eye. You can use the same trick that many early shooters use. Outstretch your arms, make a triangle or circle with both hands, and pick a distant object to look at through your hand opening (both eyes open). Take turns closing your right eye and left eye, to see which one is still looking at the distant object. The eye that’s still on target (or sort-of on…

Many of us would love to be able to take a few weeks off and travel to a remote, privately owned forest where we can practice wilderness survival skills without fear of violating a city ordinance or, perhaps worse, incurring the wrath of our homeowners association. The reality, though, is that unless we’re somehow picked for the next round of contestants on some goofy reality show, we’re not going to be doing a lot of primitive camping any time soon. We simply don’t have the time for an extended trip. And if we did, most of us can’t afford it (not all of us have the scratch to fly to Jasper National Park in Canada or the rain forests of Costa Rica). Fortunately, these skill sets don’t require a background…

Dandelions are universal. There just aren’t too many places where dandelions don’t grow, at least not in the United States. The entire plant is edible, despite the general “milky sap means bad” rule of thumb. Garlic mustard is the bane of oh so many homeowners. It is extremely invasive and will take over a flower bed in no time at all. A great way to get rid of it is to eat it. All parts of the plant are edible. The leaves have something of a bitter taste so some folks like to cook them or at least mix them with other vegetables rather than just eating them raw and alone. Clover can be eaten raw, though the taste is improved a bit by boiling. Up to you whether you…

I consider myself a perpetual student. Even when I get so good at something that I’m qualified to teach others, I’m still thrilled to pick up new tricks or to be reminded of the fundamentals. I believe that the end of learning is the end of life — thinking you know everything leads to zero growth. As a wise man once told me, if you’re not growing, you’re dying. That’s why it’s such a thrill to work on this magazine. Here at OG, I’m not just writing, editing, and photographing, but also learning potentially life-saving knowledge from the top survivalists, outdoor adventurers, and all-around badasses. For example: Dave Merrill has learned a lot and endured a lot. Aside from being an avid outdoor adventurer from the start (he’s an Eagle…

Improvised Wrap: From a pillowcase with duct tape to a torso carry with a beach towel, a quick Internet search will yield a plethora of improvised baby carriers. Knowledge on how to safely and securely carry your baby or small child in an improvised carrier could save their life in an emergency. The example shown here was crafed from three cotton T-shirts. Sof Structured Carrier: Typically made of canvas, a sof structured carrier (SSC) is a durable pack built to withstand heavy use. The buckles and straps are easy to adjust for multiple wearers, and the ergonomic support makes these carriers comfortable for both you and your child. This is the author’s preferred carry option. Shown here is a KinderPack (www.mykinderpack.com). Ring Sling: The ring sling is great for situations…

1 Understand Primary/Secondary Stability Boats have primary and secondary stability. Primary stability refers to the initial tendency of the boat to tip over when the boat is positioned upright in the water. Secondary stability is when a boat is riding on its side slightly and the tendency of it to continue over to capsizing or return upright. Many boats have “tippy” primary stability, but come into their own once they are on edge. This gives them a more responsive feel and improved handling. 2 Turn into Wakes/Waves When paddling a small solo canoe, every ripple in the water is felt. While the solo canoe is extremely fast through the water, it can be compromised by big water. Whenever possible, the paddler should turn the boat perpendicular into the wake or…

As you’ve seen, there’s quite a bit of detail involved in the construction of seemingly simple survival stick bows. You’ll have to pay close attention to crafsmanship if you’re planning to build bows for the next Katniss Everdeen or some kind of dystopian Robin Hood. But now it’s time for a bombshell. The bow isn’t the hardest thing to make. At the end of the day (or the end of civilization), the bow is just a bendy stick with a string on it. That’s all it is, a stick and a string. The part that really takes some skill to create is the projectile, better known as the arrow. A great bow won’t help us to survive without a proper set of arrows to fire from it. And if you…

An easy dish to make while you’re camping — whether off the grid or in your backyard — is something this author likes to call “campfire potatoes.” Here’s the recipe: Tear off a sheet of aluminum foil about 18 inches long. Spray the inside with nonstick spray. Wash a few red potatoes, then leave the skins on, and dice them into roughly 1-inch cubes or so. Lay those in the center of the foil. Add a couple of pats of butter and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste. Bring up the long sides of the foil roll them together down to the potatoes. Roll up the ends to make a nice, tight little package of goodies. Toss this on hot coals for about 10 minutes, then flip…

Disaster has struck. Maybe you’re on your way to work. You find yourself having to bug out — realizing you forgot your faithful EDC knife on your dresser drawer at home. Or perhaps you’ve just survived a plane crash or an off-road ATV accident far from civilization, and you’ve lost your gear. Whatever the calamity, you’re now up SHTF creek without a paddle and, worst of all, without a knife. You need to find one, quickly. Most of us cannot fathom going down the street without a pocket knife of some sort, yet here you are. Miles from the closest sporting goods store or hardware store, what will you do when the time comes for a blade to help you survive until you make it home? Build your own, of…

Jim Cobb Jim Cobb is a recognized authority on disaster preparedness. He has studied, practiced, and taught survival strategies for about 30 years. Today, he resides in the upper Midwest with his beautiful and patient wife and their three adolescent weapons of mass destruction. His books include Prepper’s Home Defense, Countdown to Preparedness, and Prepper’s Long-Term Survival Guide. Jim’s primary home online is www.survivalweekly.com. He is also active on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jimcobbsurvival. Jim offers a consulting service as well as educational opportunities at www.disasterprepconsultants.com. Tim MacWelch MacWelch has been a survival instructor for the past 19 years and has trained people from all walks of life — including members from the Justice Department, the State Department, and all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. He is a frequent public speaker…

A personal dry bag containing emergency essentials should always be carried close to hand while in a canoe or kayak. This bag may or may not be tethered to the paddler’s personal floatation device and should be compact and light enough not to affect the buoyancy of the life jacket or range of motion while paddling. The Outdoor Research 5L Lightweight Dry sack is an ideal size and has sufficient water resistance for this application. The contents of the kit should be determined by purpose and reality. Capsizing is a real threat to the open boater. Inside the personal dry bag, the paddler should carry an immersion kit. This kit should include various firestarters that are easy to use with cold hands, as well as a flame source such as…

Back: This is the side of the bow that faces away from you as you pull on the bow string. The back of the bow is toward the target. If a bow breaks, the back will often produce splinters of wood, as the back is under tension due to the wood fibers pulling away from each other. Belly: The belly of the bow is on the inside of the bow, facing you as you pull the bow string. If a bow breaks, the belly may hinge or fold while breaking due to the fibers being compacted in the belly. In modern archery, the belly is now called the “face.” Bowyer: A person who makes bows. Brace height: The distance from the grip to the string when the bow is strung.…

If it’s truly a long-term grid-down situation, you’re going to want to try to salvage the refrigerated and frozen foods as best you can. It might turn out that the best thing to do is to cook as much of it as possible and have a little feast. That’s preferable over letting it all just go to waste, right? Meat can be cooked on the grill, of course. Invite the neighbors over and have a cookout. Hopefully they’ll have buns that match what you’re serving. Hot dogs can be sliced for hamburger buns, but burgers on hot dog buns is troublesome. Frozen Fries: Many of us have one or more bags of frozen French fries in our freezers. Here is one way to make use of those fries before they…

Of all the emotions, the brain allocates the greatest space and energy to fear. Why? It’s one of your lifelines when SHTF. Unfortunately, the types of fear typically experienced by the military, first responders, or law enforcement are now part of America’s mainstream society. We’re constantly deluged by a 24-hour news cycle with reports of floods, fires, ice storms, hurricanes, and too many more to list in this article. And those are just natural calamities. Let’s not forget man-made crises like an EMP attack, terrorism, and the ever-looming threat of nuclear weapons. The constant barrage of in-your-face reporting brings high-definition fear directly into your living room. Even if you choose not to watch the news, there’s the continuing parade of disaster entertainment — from the 1970s classic The Towering Inferno…

The drawback of the forged blade is producing enough heat to make it. Campfires, bonfires, and wood-burning stoves can be used, but the problem is that the campfire method or stove method requires more time in the fire whereas the bonfire may be too hot to get close enough to heat the metal without tongs. A charcoal fire will burn hotter than wood, but if a disaster breaks out, and you don’t already have a knife, there’s a good chance you won’t have a bag of Kingsford Briquettes handy, either. Charcoal is made from wood. The easiest way to make it is to cram as much wood that will fit into a metal or masonry container and heat it in a bonfire or burn barrel. The receptacle (known as a…

WARNING! The exercises and content expressed in this column are for illustrative purposes only. Consult a medical professional before trying any physical activity or nutritional plan. Some say speed kills. In this case, it’s going to save your ass. Quickly evading imminent danger is an absolute necessity, and we’re not going to let a lack of knowledge be the reason why you’re slow. Sprint training is often overlooked in a physical preparation program, usually in favor of bench presses and asinine machine exercises. Based on your surroundings or what you have available, traveling on foot might be your only option, which is why it’s such a key component to a solid physical preparation plan. Quick bursts of speed may be the difference between life and death. After you absorb the…