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

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

   

Anti-Signal Faraday Bag (Review)

Anti-Signal Faraday Bag by RMS Unlimited Goods (Product Review)

This is a Faraday bag meant to hold just 1-2 small devices. I was able to place two cell phones inside it, or one Baofeng radio (FRS/GMRS, in a nutshell, a walkie talkie) minus the antenna.

The bag basically stops signals from entering its enclosure. Some use them to store their devices in case of an EMP, while others use them on occasion to protect against electric currents and discharges. If there's a lightning strike, the current would travel around the outside of the bag, but not inside.

I tested the RMS Faraday bag by placing my daughter's phone in the bag, folding the top over twice as instructed, and sealing it with the Velcro. I called her phone several times but none of the calls went through. I called again immediately upon removing the phone from the bag; my call was received right away.

I repeated the same test but with my son's phone inside, and had the same results. The same outcome occurred when I placed my own phone in the Faraday bag. Three phones all provided consistent results for this product.

This is a well-made item, very sturdy, that seals well. It has two vinyl windows where you could place some sort of identification as to what the item is inside the bag. This would be especially helpful if you have more than one Faraday bag of the same size.

I was provided this item for evaluation purposes.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KKJWFN0

#rmsidtheft

Merytes Portable Binoculars (Review)

This is my first set of portable binoculars. I honestly didn't expect a whole lot, given both the size and the price point. I do have another pair of binoculars but they are a standard size and from a well-known brand. To my surprise, these little cheapies actually knock the socks off the brand-name ones.

The binoculars are made by Merytes. They are 10x25 (magnification is 10x, object diameter of 25mm). They weigh only 7 ounces (.44 lb or 200 grams). They have a strap so you can wear them around your neck, but you can detach them as well.

There is a dial in the middle for large adjustments, and a fine-tuner on the right eyepiece. It is also high definition. The clarity is outstanding, far beyond what I expected for such inexpensive binoculars.

They also come with a cleaning cloth, carrying bag with a belt loop, and instructions (printed in multiple languages), and have a one year warranty. They do a beautiful job. If there is a SHTF situation, I will definitely include these in my BOB.

Item was provided for evaluation purposes.


 

https://www.amazon.com/Binoculars-10x25-Portable-Definition-Merytes/dp/B01DF02UTA/ref=sr_1_31?ie=UTF8&qid=1475142596&sr=8-31&keywords=binoculars

#PortableBinoculars

Atchison Chemical Spill, Bugging Out

With all the national issues going on, we must not forget to pay attention to what is going on right in front of us as well. What happened in Atchison, KS, is an excellent reminder of being aware of businesses, plants, etc, as much as humanly possible, in your area. We live 3-4 miles from a canning factory, and many of my neighbors aren't even aware of its existence. Accidents happen. Hopefully when they do, they will be small; however, if something large-scale occurs, it may require evacuation. This is why a BOB is a priority. If you don't already have one, it is not something to think about starting next year. This is a priority. http://offgridsurvival.com/need-bug-plan-atchison-ks-hit-chlorine-chemical-spill/

Trauma Kit (Review)

CAT Tourniquet, Israeli Bandage, Emergency Blanket from Lia Medical (Review)

I helped form the local community emergency response team, my main position being to advise on putting together bug out bags and medical kits. The items in this kit from Lia Medical are all ones I strongly suggest to include in all emergency kits, and are ones I keep in my own BOB (bug out bag). I have two teenagers in high school and still needed a few things to finish up the emergency kits they keep in their backpacks at school, and this looked like an excellent deal opportunity to do just that.

The Lia Medical kit comes with a CAT (combat applied) tourniquet, an Israeli bandage, and an emergency blanket. The three items arrive in a resealable pouch, though each is also wrapped individually as well. The Israeli bandage, also known as a trauma bandage, is kind of like an elastic bandage with a gauze pad attached; the gauze has clotting granules in it so that if you suffer a wound and are bleeding profusely, such as from a bullet or stab wound, the Israeli bandage can buy you enough time to get to emergency medical care. The green package the bandage comes in has instructions on how to use it, with illustrations included. The CAT tourniquet has a small slip with instructions. The emergency blanket is self-explanatory.

I opened the CAT tourniquet and the Israeli bandage and placed them on my daughter (carefully, as the Israeli bandage is really only meant to be used once so as to not be torn on the V-notch). These are very well-made items and I am quite comfortable with anyone in my family carrying these in their kits, even my teens keeping them in their packs in case of emergency at school. No one likes to think of something bad happening, but I would rather have these and not need them than something happen and not have them.

Product was provided for evaluation purposes. 

http://amzn.to/2cqquLx

#LiaMedical

Tactical Backpack (review)

Tactical Backpack by Gonex (Review)

The Tactical Backpack Extendable Functional Backpack, by Gonex is a large pack, with a 45L capacity in the main section and another 15 in the smaller packs, putting it at a full 60L. The material is very durable at 900D. The stitching is excellent. It does have Molle strapping in some locations. The best Molle spots are in my opinion where the removable packs have been placed.

The removable packs are attached quite well. There are ton of straps on this pack, maybe even too many. With all the extra length on the straps, there is no elastic capture to keep them from just flailing, so it rather looks like you are carrying a bag of straps. There are two included Molle strapped pouches on either side that add more side to the pack. The small pack on the lower of the front has four pockets: one large, three small. The big one has a separator inside; it has a strap included if you want to remove it and wear it as a shoulder pack. The strap is wide and the ends have both not only Velcro but they have a snap in the middle of the Velcro, so it stays secure. It can also be worn as a fanny pack. The two pouches on either side are one big dump pouch. One thing of note was the removable packs on the sides, though strong, really should to have straps on the back side so they can be weaved through in order to be more secure.

Starting on the front of the pack, the outer edge, the thin narrow strip of Molle strips and a nice Velcro spot where you can put your own patch is a nice touch. The main pack has two zippers. The first zipper has a smaller container with a webbed separator. The larger container is extremely big and has a solid separator, which would be great for a laptop. There are no openings for either a hydration pouch or earphones. The back padding is not removable or replaceable.

Moving to the outside of the pack on the rear, there are three very thick large pads to separate from your back to help keep you cool. The shoulder straps are the biggest weak point. They are thin and the padding is crunchy. The straps have two heavy duty plastic D-rings. The movable chest strap has a buckle which includes an emergency whistle. The backpack does include a belly band to help keep it in place. The top of the pack also has two heavy duty plastic D-rings. The handle is very well-stitched.

All of the Molle webbing is MilSpec to allow components to be attached. The zippers are large and heavy duty, metal and a bit noisy, but easy to pull if you have gloves on. The cordage which extends the zipper pulls is not high quality and will likely wear out quickly. The zippers are covered for protection in the rain, but not overly as to get in the way. All of the plastic buckles have the company name in Chinese but since it is imprinted in the material, it does not really stand out. There are two large nylon loops on the bottom of the pack that I can easily see hooking on a bed roll down there.

This is definitely the best pack we have from this price class. It is strong and well-made. I would have no problem trusting this on our next local call-out or family outing.

I received this item at a discounted price or free for evaluation purposes. I have no affiliation with the manufacturer of the product or the seller of the item, and I do not receive any financial compensation. I rely on reviews when I make my own purchases. I aim to help other customers by providing thoroughly written reviews; I hope the information provided is helpful in some way.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JOOFATI

#backpack

Emergency Water Filter (Boston Fortis Explorer Pro)

Compact Emergency Water Filter (Review)

My husband and I recently received the Boston Fortis Explorer Pro. We didn't just put it with our gear; we thoroughly tested it so we could share the results with you, as always.

This is a compact filter, so it is easy to transport. If in an emergency situation, it is ideal to stash in a BOB (bug out bag), as every inch and every ounce counts. In this case, the filter is 6.6 x 3.1 x 1.8 inches and only weighs 9 ounces. It comes with a thick drawstring pouch and a decent set of instructions. Boston Fortis even managed to squirrel away a few survival goodies into their water filter: a whistle, flashlight (surprisingly bright), compass, miniature knife, and a flint. The whistle and flashlight are incorporated into the pump, while the compass is along the top where the tubing comes out. The knife and flint are built flush into the base.

Due to our desert region's monsoon drawing to a close, we have a ridiculous amount of mosquitoes right now; thus, we decided to use a camping bucket to hold hose water and bring it back inside the house to test. We also tossed in some dirt and debris for good measure. Per the instructions, we put one end in the bucket and the other in an empty glass. The 3-stage filter has a pretty quick flow rate of around 17 ounces a minute, according to the manufacturer. We did indeed find that to be right on par. As I kept an eye on the bucket, watching the dirt in the water spin around the tube while my husband pumped, I happened to glance over at the glass and saw it was about to overflow and quickly told him to stop pumping. He had no idea it was working so quickly. It does take a bit of effort to pump, but that was expected. As instructed, we had to be sure the tube does not set directly into the debris in order to prevent clogging.

As you can see in the attached photos, the water came out incredibly clear. It tasted a bit like plastic, which I figure is from the tube. I think that will improve with time and use. We did not taste any dirt. After use, we flushed it with clean water. The assembly and disassembly is simple, as is rinsing and cleaning the filter to extend its life. We are thoroughly impressed, and glad to now have the Explorer Pro in our kit. It could end up being a lifesaver.

Lantern reviews

I've reviewed several lanterns lately. If you don't have any in your emergency kit and are looking for some guidance, I hope this will give you a place to start. I tested small, portable ones; some were solar powered while others required batteries. Some had USB as well. One even was made of silicone and could carry items inside. Jot me a note if you have any questions.

Collapsible LED Lantern 2-Pack Set

Gold-colored Solar LED Collapsible LED Lantern

Solar LED Silicone Collapsible Lantern