Table of contents for April/May #48 2022 in RECOIL OFFGRID

1. Jackets Make: Sitka Model: Kelvin Aerolite Jacket MSRP: $299 URL: sitkagear.com 2. Cold Weather Gloves Make: Mechanix Wear Model: Coldwork Peak MSRP: $51 URL: mechanix.com 3. Hoody Make: Vertx Model: Manitou Hoody MSRP: $146 URL: vertx.com 4. Gloves Make: Viktos Model: Wartorn Vented Glove MSRP: $38 URL: viktos.com 5. Boots Make: Viktos Model: Johnny Combat Winter Boot MSRP: $160 URL: viktos.com 6. Backpack Make: Vertx Model: Commuter Sling 2.0 MSRP: $199 URL: vertx.com 7. Insect Net Make: Ben’s Model: InvisiNet Bug Jacket & Mitts MSRP: $26 URL: bens30.com 8. Water Bottle Make: Mystery Ranch Model: Hydro Flask MSRP: $40 URL: mysteryranch.com 9. IFAK Make: North American Rescue Model: Solo IFAK MSRP: $200 URL: narescue.com 10. Food Storage Bag Make: Ursack Model: Ursack Allmitey Bear-Resistant Food Sack MSRP: $155 URL:…

When most people think of survival knives, images of 1980s action films with muscle-bound heroes sporting massive Bowie knives with serrated spines, hollow handles to store fishing gear, and a mostly useless compass spring to mind. The fact is that more often than not, a sub-3-inch blade can take care of 95 percent of your cutting chores. If you’re in a rough and rugged setting where you need to baton up batches of firewood, clear massive amounts of brush, or perhaps skin a lot of game in a short period of time, you may need a better choice of tool. For most day-to-day uses, however, a short blade can make a lot more sense than tromping around with a Bowie knife or a Woodsman’s Pal. These are the knives for…

Disclaimer: This 72-hour survival challenge was performed by a professional survival instructor under close supervision by rescue personnel. Do not attempt any potentially dangerous survival challenge without prior training, and always establish contingency plans in case something goes wrong. Working for Fieldcraft Survival, I’ve learned to expect each day to be filled with the unexpected. We have a highly dynamic work environment with new projects and tasks on a regular basis. One day, we’re scouting land for upcoming courses, the next we’re flying to another state to teach a defensive handgun class, the next we’re filming online content in the mountains — you get the idea. In June 2021, my boss Mike Glover challenged me to survive for 72 hours in the desert with nothing more than the contents of…

Just a few decades ago, being “prepared” meant something quite different from what it means today. Back then, if you focused on the survival essentials like food, water, security/self-defense, first-aid, sanitation/hygiene, and knowing when to stay put and when to get out, you’d probably be in pretty good shape if a natural disaster, or some other crisis, came your way. As long as the physical world was safe and secure, everything else would follow. Today, however, many experts believe that virtual threats are quickly becoming just as dangerous as physical threats. In other words, what happens online can have a direct impact on all the things you need to survive, including essential public services, vital utilities, the supply chain, and even access to your own currency. If you want to…

English scientist Michael Faraday’s instrumental work with electricity in the early 1800s led to discoveries in creating the first electrical generator, rubber balloons, and of course the Faraday cage. Early in his research career, he worked for Sir Humphry Davy, the chemist responsible for using electrolysis to isolate many elements for the first time. These were the pioneers of research into metals, chemistry, and electricity. Albert Einstein was even said to have kept a portrait of Faraday on the wall of his study — such was his importance within his field. Out of necessity, since scientists were known for injuring and killing themselves during experiments in this era, the first Faraday cage was constructed in 1836 to keep Michael safe. In this “test lab,” he proved there was no electrical…

The Premise: Violence is a universal constant in human history, whether it’s carried out with bare hands, clubs, edged weapons, or firearms. As author Tiger McKee puts it, “The firearm is simply a tool … ultimately, we fight with our minds.” This underlying martial arts philosophy serves as the foundation for an informal yet thorough manual for firearm-based combatives. By McKee’s own admission, this book was never intended to be published — it was a personal journal written in the early 2000s that documented lessons learned while training with his carbine and sidearm of choice. The entire book was handwritten by the author and is interspersed with sketches and diagrams. In line with this style, tone is conversational, and there are frequent spelling and grammar errors (we noticed half a…

SHELTER: • North American Rescue Rescue Wrap• Stay Outside Longer (SOL) Emergency Bivy Sack WATER: • Fieldcraft Survival Collapsible Bladder• Reynolds Oven Bags• 3-Foot Vinyl Tubing• 30 Aquatabs FIRE: • Mini BIC lighter• Exotac nanoSTRIKER• 4x Procamptek Tinder Plugs KNIVES: • Victorinox Farmer• ESEE Knives S35VN Izula With Duct-Tape Edge Guard CORDAGE AND UTILITY: • 6-Foot Duct Tape• 12.6 Feet 550 Paracord• 25-Foot Braided Tarred Catahoula Line• 3-Foot Stainless Steel Wire• 1x Single Use Superglue• 2x Small Cable Ties• 1x Button Compass• 1x Quart-Size Ziploc FISHING AND “HUNTING”: • Assorted Dry Flies• 6-Foot 4x Fly-Fishing Tippet• 25-Foot 50-Pound Test Spiderwire• Assorted Hooks, Split Shot, Snap Swivels• 2x Sheffield Floats• 1x Theraband Slingshot Band NUTRITION: • 6x Wolf21 Sleep Supplements• 3x Nuun Hydration Tablets• 3x Kifaru Revival Packets• 3x Ghee/Coconut Oil…

When I began my service in the Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) field back in 2014, I had joined for all the wrong reasons. I thought I’d be some kind of a cross between G.I. Joe and Indiana Jones. I imagined myself hanging off the back of a Chinook helicopter and smiling, serving America but mostly serving myself. I had a lot to learn. During my time working as a Structures Specialist attached to the State of Florida’s US&R Task Force, I’ve been privileged to deploy on rescue operations for four hurricanes and most recently the Champlain Towers collapse in Surfside, Florida. I’ve carried my gear in the whole series of 5.11 RUSH packs, starting with a big RUSH72 (55-liter size) and eventually working my way down to the RUSH12…

MAKE & MODEL 1 GRAYL UltraPress Covert Edition WEIGHT 12.5 ounces MSRP $90 URL grayl.com NOTES We’ve had great experiences with GRAYL’s previous water purifiers, the minimalist Ultralight and the high-capacity GeoPress, so we were pleased to see that the new UltraPress takes influences from both. It removes bacteria, viruses, protozoan cysts, chemicals, and other contaminants from 16.9 fluid ounces of water in 10 seconds flat — just scoop water into the outer sleeve, then press down to force it through the purifier cartridge. The RiverFlow spout has a threaded cap to prevent cross-contamination, and makes this purifier as convenient to drink from as any regular water bottle. Each replaceable cartridge is rated for 300 cycles (40 gallons). The Nature Edition features high-vis colors; the Covert Edition comes in black and…

Nila Rhoades and her husband, operate Resilient Security Solutions, in Wyoming. She blogs at www.milspecmom.com on topics such as survival, self-defense, firearms, and tactics (with a female and parent perspective). Nila has a dual masters in Homeland Security & Emergency Disaster Management and Counterintelligence. They have three awesome children. She loves running and peanut butter ice cream. Mel Ward is a husband, father, and combat veteran. He served in Afghanistan and Iraq with 2nd Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. Over the last 16 years, he has worked in the security industry. He’s an advocate of preparedness and believes self-reliance is not an option, but a duty.…

In Issue 45, I introduced Software-Defined Radios (SDRs) using the popular RTL-SDR dongle and the open source Gqrx software for receiving a variety of analog voice transmissions on multiple different bands for simple gathering of signals intelligence (SIGINT) and news. However, SDRs aren’t necessary to do most of that work. My Yaesu VX-6R handheld transceiver, for instance, is capable of receiving high frequency (HF) bands for shortwave listening, as well as AM air bands. SDRs really shine as a result of: > Their relatively inexpensive price point > Their flexibility when paired with the appropriate software That flexibility is especially evident when dealing with the wide array of digital communications that they’re capable of receiving and decoding. The low cost of the hardware and the zero cost of most of…

“The final weapon is the brain, all else is supplemental.”– John Steinbeck Back in December 2019, I attended my very first formal pistol shooting course, taught by Blue-Green Alliance founders Gabe and Josh (both active Force Recon Marines). The lessons I learned at that intense two-day class were distilled into the first entry of this column in Issue 37. As I wrote at the time, “I walked away knowing that I still have a tremendous amount to learn, but also felt encouraged by my ability to improve.” Since then, I have dedicated myself to doing just that — learning and improving. After more than a dozen other courses, thousands of rounds of ammo, a growing pile of new guns and gear, and countless hours spent practicing on my own, it’s…