Yoga Mat Non-Slip Towel by Youphoria (Product Review)

If you do yoga or any outdoor activity that makes you sweaty, this yoga mat towel by Youphoria (I love that name!) is for you. As I talked about in my YouTube video review, microfiber towels are fantastic for taking along camping. When you have limited space in your pack, a microfiber towel is ideal.

This towel however is different than others I have, thanks to its awesome size of 24" x 72". It would surely be great for you yoga folks out there, as it makes your yoga mat non-slip. Who wants to slip on their sweat? Using a yoga mat towel also keeps your mat more hygienic.

Not surprisingly, I use this huge towel when I camp. We go on long camping trips, and this microfiber towel is awesome at drying dishes, as it absorbs a whopping 7 times its weight in liquids. It dries wonderfully fast, so if you want to head for the solar shower before crawling into your sleeping bag for the night, your towel will be dry and ready for you.

The Youphoria towel comes in over a dozen color combinations, sure to please even the most picky of people.

My favorite feature of this towel, other than the size of course--oh, and the fantastic absorption--is that it is machine washable. Who wants to come home from a week in the woods and have to hand wash a towel?

Check it out for yourself!

https://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Towel-Youphoria-Gray-Stitching/dp/B00NEPOZJ0/keywords=yoga+towel

Self-Inflating Sleeping Pad by Survival Hax (Product Review) **Discount Code!**

**Awesome discount code below!**

This Survival Hax Self-Inflating Sleeping Pad is really handy if you do a lot of outdoor activities, like we do. Living in the desert, we do not exactly have grass-covered soil making for a gentle sleep. Instead, we have rock-hard calichi that does actually feel like sleeping on rocks. Even though we love our sleeping bags, we will take any additional assistance we can get to make our outdoor sleep more comfortable.

The pad comes in a storage bag that closes with a drawstring. It also has an elastic strap to put around the bag to keep it deflated. You inflate the pad by turning the small knob counter-clockwise (follow the "righty tight-y, lefty loose-y" rule). Admittedly, at first I did not think it was inflating. I followed the directions though and inflated-deflated it several times since it was brand new. Then I opened the knob and rolled up the pad, and was surprised by how much air came out. This showed me it had indeed inflated.

I went ahead and inflated it at this point. I used it off and on for a couple weeks. It is a nice small size while in the bag, small enough to put in or under a pack. It weighs roughly two pounds. I saw someone complain about the #sleepingpad being narrow, but to me that isn't an issue. After all, it's going under a sleeping bag, which you can't exactly roll around and spread out in like you can in bed. The pad has a good length at 70.8” x 19.6”. The exterior is a type of coated PVC.

If you are looking to make your overnight outings or #camping a bit more comfortable, check out this pad. The company says if you are searching for a thicker type of pad for under your sleeping bag, you should try to find an "insulated" sleeping pad. You can check out the details of the pad I have at their website: https://survivalhax.com/collections/all/products/self-inflating-sleeping-pad

I have other #survivalhax items and I have found them to have excellent customer service who responds to messages quickly. They stand by their products and want their customers to be happy.

Survival Hax has authorized me to share a 40% off discount code with my awesome readers who would like one of these pads of their own! May your 2018 outdoors adventures be fantastic--and comfier than ever! Use the code OFF50PAD to receive your 40% off the pad at Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Survival-Hax-Sleeping-Pad-Lightweight/dp/B01M0HIEHU

10,000 mAh portable charger battery pack by Wetrendy (Product Review)

This is a great little 10,000 mAh portable charger by Wetrendy. The Lithium Polymer battery is lightweight and has 2 inputs and 2 outputs. It also comes with a mini-USB cable. It can be used with both Android and iPhone, which is great as we have two of each in our home since our kids are on a different plan than ours. I like being able to charge two items at the same time.

The charger is white and has a large LED that displays the . The brightness makes it incredibly easy to see (even from a distance). The red display tells you at all times how much power is left in the charger, which is a terrific feature. I have three other battery packs and this is the only one that does this. I admit I'm loving being able to just glance over to see how much is left in it.

The Wetrendy charger, being 10,000 mAh, is handy for topping off a couple of my family's cell phones or my tablet to completion when it is running low.

We frequently go camping a week at a time and use solar or USB-powered lanterns and such, so portable chargers are an awesome and essential part of our kit. We just recharge them with our tri-fold solar panel.

Regular batteries? Forget it!

Check out for yourself at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075N4YJB2/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1509889407&sr=1-6&keywords=portable+charger+10000mah&m=A3TER72GBY45MX

3 Season Sleeping Bag by Survival Hax (Product Review)

This is a good, lightweight sleeping bag from Survival Hax. It is designed for three seasons: spring, summer, and fall. It comes in a storage bag with a drawstring that closes the top really well. That's a good feature for people like me who store gear in the garage and want to keep out bugs and such. It also has straps that make the bag function like a compression bag. Just pull the straps through the buckles more and they stay in place securely while impressively shrinking the size of the bag. It's a terrific sleeping bag to strap under a pack for an overnight hike. It's small enough too to keep in a vehicle in case of emergency.

At 7 feet in length, this mummy-style #sleepingbag can fit even the really tall folks out there like my teenage son, who was over 6 feet tall by age 12; it is awesome to have a bag that fits him so well. While not meant for winter camping, if you get a mild case of the chills, you can use the drawstring around the top and use it to cover up your head! Another feature I like is the bit of Velcro to cover the zipper pull.

It is not quite waterproof, so don't count on having breakfast in bed in your tent (which I have never figured out how to do anyway, in my many years *ahemdecadesahem* of camping). You definitely do not want to spill a bunch of hot cocoa or coffee in your gear while out in the boonies.

Check out this #survivalhax sleeping bag for yourself at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01F8DMDV2

Insect Repellent bracelets pk of 20 by EZYKOO (Product Review)

There are 20 bracelets in this pack from EZYKOO. They are completely natural and DEET-free. Essential oils such as citronella provide its bug repelling power. They do a surprisingly good job at keeping bugs from eating my family alive. I have used this type of wristband before, but this is the first company I have seen that packages each bracelet individually. Every one of them is in its own resealable bag.

We bought our house as a foreclosure and it didn't have screens on the windows; we haven't been able to get them yet, and during the monsoon (basically the summer time, when my location receives most of its rain for the entire year) we are bombarded with mosquitoes, crane flies, and other annoying bugs that fly right on into our house. The bracelets are adjustable and will fit a wide variety of sizes, thanks to multiple notches. My wrists are on the thin side, so I am always left with a sizable length of wristband; this is an easy fix. I take the extra length, fold it over, and slip another notch over the bracelet's sturdy plastic tab. These are waterproof, not to mention soft. That is of particular importance to me, as one of my teens has psoriasis and eczema. The bands don't bother her skin whatsoever.

The EZYKOO bracelets last up to 250 hours. They can be worn on the wrist or ankle, but you can put them just about anywhere. The really cool bonus with this package is they also include 12 smiley face patches/stickers. These are great for the little ones! If you are a student, you can put a wristband around a backpack strap. You can stick a patch on a trekking pole, a backpack, car seat carrier handle, you name it.

The wristbands do have a bit of a citronella scent, but personally I don't mind it. I'd much rather spend a small amount on a pack of these bracelets than a fortune on countless tubes of hydrocortisone for the four of us.

Sample was provided for testing and feedback purposes.

Read more about the product at the link provided. Thanks!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072DW672Y

Portable Water Filter Bag by Survival Hax (Product Review)

Portable Water Filter Bag by Survival Hax (Product Review) 

This portable water filter bag from #survivalhax is awesome! It arrived quickly and is simple to assemble. To easily put it together, all I needed to do was insert the filter into the cap and then screw the cap onto the bag. I can just dunk the bag in the nearest questionable water source, fill it to its 16 ounce capacity, insert the filter, and drink. Another very useful aspect of this item is that the filter can be screwed into a standard plastic bottle.

At first it tastes a wee bit on the plastic side; this wasn't surprising, as I've experienced the same with other water filters. It seems to be a part of the manufacturing process and it does go away quickly. I tried water from a local source documented to have hexavalent chromium, and while I can't verify the removal of it, it does taste much better after filtration through this .1 micron straw.

At first I was concerned about trying a portable water filter bag. I rather expected them to be flimsy, and in a survival situation that's a pretty big risk. I ended up pleasantly surprised though, discovering the bag to be quite sturdy while still flexible. Not only that, but it seems to be reinforced not only around a thick outer perimeter, but also around the designated hole for the mini-carabiner as well.

It's easy to just hook to my pack and go! I'm not going on any outdoor activities without this bag. Given you can filter around 1,000 liters (approximately 264 gallons) with this filter, I'll be using it for a long time to come!


https://survivalhax.com/products/portable-water-filter-bag

   

Tactical Flashlight by Survival Hax (Product Review)

Survival Hax has this very well-made tactical flashlight with 1000 lumens. It is smallish at just over 5 inches in length. It comes with a rechargeable battery as well as a charger, but if you don't want to go that route, you can use the included adapter for AAA batteries. The weight is sturdy while not being heavy, and it is comfortable to hold. It has a sliding zoom, with the Cree chip being displayed on the tightest setting. It is workable with one hand even with the zoom slide being a bit on the tight slide. This is significant to me, as I know if SHTF I may very well need to use it single-handedly. I also have a tremor from the Ehlers-Danlos so the fact that I was able to use this without issue says a lot. I've tried one other product by this company, and I'm really glad to see the high quality is consistent.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DD6CWOY https://survivalhax.com/collections/all/products/tactical-led-flashlight

Survival Hax Tactical LED pen

This tactical pen by Survival is a handy item to have in your EDC (every day carry). It is sturdy and well-made, without being heavy or cumbersome. We have a couple other tactical pens in our household but this one stands out, and for a good reason. It has an LED light on one end! Honestly I didn't expect a whole lot of such a tiny light, but it is surprisingly bright and effective. While it would be great for uses such as illuminating a lock on a door or a car, I must admit I have been using it for unexpected reasons. Who figured my tactical pen would help me figure out what stitch I was on while crocheting with black yarn? A fiber arts disaster was diverted when I activated the light with a small twist. There is of course a glass breaker on the pen. Unlike our other tac pens, I wasn't sure how I would feel about the placement of the glass breaker since it is actually part of the pen cap. As I have used it though, I have grown used to it. It is a bit awkward at first, since you can either twist the cap onto the top of the pen (where the LED light is located), or you can simply leave it off while you are writing. I choose the latter, since I have issues with my hands; putting the cap on the end makes the pen quite tall and a bit ridiculous looking, but who cares about looks with a tool that's meant for potentially life-saving purposes like breaking glass? The pen itself writes beautifully, satisfying even my pen-snob requirements. (Is there a term for people who adore and are addicted to pens? Maybe it's just an English teacher thing.) It is smooth and flows perfectly. The clip is toward the top of the pen, not on the cap. I securely clip the pen to my pants without worry. I was provided this tactical pen at discount for testing purposes. https://www.amazon.com/Tactical-LED-Pen-Glassbreaker-Starter/dp/B06XK4N55V/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1493702079&sr=8-7&keywords=Tactical+LED+Pen+4+in #survivalhax

Cardiology Stethoscope by Vorfreude (Review)

Vorfreude manufactured this cardiology stethoscope. It comes with a lifetime warranty, four replacement earpieces, and 1 extra diaphragm. It also comes with a pen light and batteries. The stethoscope is latex free, PBA free, and is stainless steel. It has been sterilized at the factory.

I had never used a cardiology stethoscope before, as I worked in in-patient acute care. This is by far the clearest stethoscope I have ever heard. If you are looking for one for your bug out bag, I definitely recommend this.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HCFW620