Table of contents for Fall 2014 in RECOIL OFFGRID

Those who carry a pocketsized flashlight on them every day (which should be everyone) understand the benefits of having access to light at a moment’s notice. But what if your needs go beyond illuminating the dark corners of a room? What if you need to see well beyond the reach of your everyday-carry (EDC) light? EDC flashlights are convenient to carry and use, but the distance their beams cover can be limited — especially when compared to dedicated spot-beam-style flashlights. Why pack these larger torches? Perhaps you need to see what’s going on across a field or to investigate movement on the roofline of a multistoried building. Lighting up areas at greater distances doesn’t necessarily mean that the flashlight needs to be large and unwieldy. A recent boon in lighting…

You can never be 100-percent prepared for what may come your way. Natural or manmade, crisis events have a Sun Tzu-like way of hitting us where we’re weakest. A lot of us spend countless hours trying to recognize our shortcomings and beef them up. Practice, preparation, and some proactive thinking keep us prepared (hopefully) for any disaster that rolls our way. And when it does, we all want to think that we’ll be a superman or superwoman, deflecting danger away from our kids and keeping them secure under our wings. Yet, the best way to be a superhero is to be a super teacher. Train your progeny to not only follow the family’s SHTF plan, but also to be as self-reliant as possible if that plan fails in the face…

Come hell or high water, your best bet for slipping past urban threats with that 90-pound bug-out pack might just be a bugout ’yak (BOY). Swift and wickedly silent, these low-signature kayaks are capable of carrying you plus your weight’s worth in gear for days, all while vanishing without a trace. If you’re not practicing your escaping or scouting with these shallow running craft, then your foolproof evacuation route is already landlocked — and for allowing that planning blind spot, fellow traveler, you deserve a good paddling. Paddled solo, in tandem, or possibly strung together like a caravan of pack mules, BOYs bridge the water-surface mobility gap, serving as your conduit to safety when vehicles halt and roadways are impassable. To paraphrase an old saying, do not get caught up…

The term “bushcraft” has been trending lately. It’s been applied to a wide variety of activities, from a daylong hike through a mountainous trail to a weekend camping trip by the lake. But others say it should be applied only to more hardcore pursuits, such as a serious trial-by-fire solo expedition into the backwoods where you emerge a diferent person. So, what is it truly? Bushcraft is about conquering the wilderness and one’s darkest fears. Yes, it’s a movement of applying skills, knowledge, and physical endurance in the great outdoors — but it’s more than that. It’s a mindset that requires the development of both a survival skillset and a determined spirit to be able to overcome rising odds. In the physical world, bushcraft is a combination of skills and…

My ankle felt like it was on fire. I was on my back. Points of pain competed for attention across my entire body. Through the clearing dust, I could see the spot where the screaming originated. The screams came from her. I looked up at my girlfriend’s face, normally beautiful, now twisted into a red and unfamiliar mask of fear and surprise. I had fallen. And I was hurt. Then the full scope of the situation dawned on me. We were in a remote and unforgiving area. We were also lost. Lost, hurt, alone, and darkness would be upon us soon. The nauseating dread that was growing in my belly was the complete opposite of the excitement I had felt just hours before driving to the trail head to “test…

To paraphrase an old Mitch Hedberg joke, ÒIf youÕre lost in the woods, build a house. You were lost, but now you live here. So you have severely improved your predicament!Ó ItÕs a bit ridiculous, but perhaps there is some wisdom there. If we can be smart enough in our basic hiking gear selection to be able to Òlive hereÓ on the trail, then weÕll probably do well enough to survive through the night should we become lost or left behind. It’s oftentimes the case when hikers go missing that the critical point of failure was simply not making it back before dusk. To complicate things they tend to hustle in an efort to race the sun as they see their plans unravelling, which ensures they’ll be tired, sweaty, and…

Chuck Norris doesn’t sleep. He waits. But for the regular Joe, being awakened from a deep sleep by a bump in the night can be a poopy-pants-inducing experience. At least if you’re in your home, you’re familiar with your surroundings and could probably navigate through it in complete darkness. You know the floor plan. You know all the avenues of approach. And, with a little prior planning and practice, you have an advantageous position where you can defend yourself and your loved ones from any attempted assault. It’s one thing to be safe and secure in our homes. It’s quite another to maintain that same level of protection when we’re sleeping under the stars, far from civilization. Whether we’re enjoying all that Mother Nature has to ofer on a relaxing…

Because you’re a survival-minded person — and you paid attention in your fourth-grade health class — you know that water is life. It provides not only hydration for our bodies, but also a means to maintain good hygiene and overall cleanliness, as well as fend of disease and other ailments. And we can use it to cook. Whether we’re on a leisurely day hike or scrambling to get out of town for good, it’s clear that water is one of the survival essentials that we must carry with us — but how we carry this precious resource is always up for debate. Obviously, in normal circumstances, you can grab a glass, mug, or even a used Big Gulp cup and simply fill ’er up. Voilà, water to go. But that’s…

1 PUBLISHER & TITLE Ulysses Press Crafting with Paracord FORMAT Trade Paperback PAGES 108 MSRP $15 URL www.ulyssespress.com NOTES Despite having a title that sounds like it was penned by Martha Stewart, Crafting with Paracord: 50 Fun and Creative Projects Using the World’s Strongest Cord by Chad Poole is a bit manlier than one would think — not that women wouldn’t fnd it handy, too. Originally designed as parachute lines during World War II, paracord has since been adapted for all sorts of uses due to it toughness, lightness, and versatility. This book shows how to make everything from survival bracelets and knife handles to watchbands and keychains. 2 MAKE & MODEL SOG Specialty Knives & Tools Dark Energy 120A LENGTH 4.5 in. WEIGHT 2.89 oz. MSRP $58 URL www.sogknives.com…

You’re a fit 30-something who enjoys living in Los Angeles. But, you realize the need to be prepared for any emergency, be it natural or manmade. You understand the concept of “bugging out” and want to practice by loading up a one-day bug-out bag and going on a hike. You enlist your longtime girlfriend to do the same. Though she’s of only average athletic ability and not a prepper, she’s willing and able. Things go well as you ascend Mount San Antonio Loop Trail, known locally as Mount Baldy, until you reach the Devil’s Backbone, the final portion before the summit; it tests your endurance and athleticism. You chug more water than expected, going through two-thirds of your water supply already. Your girlfriend has downed half of her water supply.…

Imagine yourself on a day hike, a pastime that millions of Americans enjoy each year. You’ve gone camping for the weekend, and set out from the campsite to explore the terrain and observe the natural beauty that surrounds you. You’ve got your backpack with a hydration bladder, snack food, knife, cell phone, and even a map and compass — plenty of supplies to get you through the day. You have it all planned out and know you can be back well before sunset, so you hit the trail with a smile on your face. As the hours pass, you decide you’ve had enough hiking for one day, turning around to follow your tracks back to camp. The sun sinks closer and closer to the horizon, and suddenly it hits you…

If the city comes crumbling down around you and you have no choice but to bug out, what kind of vehicle would you choose to get out of town in? It sounds like a simple question, but reality makes it a lot tougher to answer than we’d like it to be. Ask 10 people this question, and you’re bound to get at least 10 diferent answers. Some might say an old carbureted truck, others swear by diesel power, yet others still would ride of on a motorcycle. Then there are those who would reach for their paddles instead (see “Bug-Out ’Yak” on page 88). Because everyone’s situation and needs are diferent, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. What type of area you live in and the number of people in your household…

Picture the worst-case scenario. Our biggest threat (ISIS, Iran, al-Qaeda, North Korea — take your pick) has launched a coordinated series of suicide-bomb attacks in multiple metropolitan areas, hoping to spread fear and make the nation vulnerable to conventional attacks. Fortunately, you saw the writing on the wall and quickly bugged out in your of-road rig to the backcountry. You’ve lived of your emergency supplies, but weeks have now passed and you’re barely surviving of the land. You packed an AR-15 rifle, but are low on ammo; plus, using it to hunt could draw unwanted attention from other desperate souls. However, all your preparation for this type of scenario led you to bring along a fitting SHTF tool — an air rifle. Many airguns available today are more than adequate…

When you’re fleeing a cataclysmic event, you’ll need to assess the threat then haul ass as quickly and as far away from it as possible. Once you’ve executed your bug-out plan and are in the midst of getting to safer territory, you’ll need to be prepared for whatever comes your way, from the big to the small. And by small we mean microscopic. The last thing you need is a mild stomach ache manifesting into a more serious problem. WARNING! This article is meant to be a quick overview and not a detailed guide on how to diagnose or treat poisonings or venomous bites. To be prepared for any emergency, we encourage you to enroll in a certifed medical course or seek guidance from a licensed health provider. Drinking contaminated…

A large-scale disaster has struck nearby. While it hasn’t devastated your community directly, it has forced your entire neighborhood into a long-term survival situation. You followed the best course of action in your case: to “bug in.” This can mean days or even weeks of staying put in your home or bunkering down until the aftermath subsides. Kudos to you on staying safe (hopefully) and having the wherewithal to store food, water, and supplies. But what’s your next course of action? You’ll have plenty of time on your hands, and depending on your environment, the objects around you can go a long way to keep you physically prepared for whatever may come your way — whether that means a brawl, a firefight, or an all-out sprint. Being in a culture…