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

   

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

Compact 100-Piece First Aid Kit (Product Review)

For a compact kit, this is a great one. I have put together a lot of medical kits for people over the years, and there is a difference between a bug out style med kit and a simple IFAK (Individual First Aid Kit). I am not going to compare the two, because they are completely different beings and it wouldn't be realistic or fair. I ordered the Compact First Aid Kit from TripWorthy to review.

This is a physically small kit. It is not much wider than a pair of hair cutting scissors. I did not expect much, until I opened it. I am pretty impressed with how much they were able to get in here. I appreciate the mixed type of items, such as survival (poncho, glow stick, emergency blanket) with first aid (bandages, antiseptic, ice pack) with practical (sewing kit, whistle, safety pins), because you simply never know what you will have the need for. Also consider that items may end up having more than one type of use in an emergent situation. The prescribed use may not be what it ends up being used for!

This kit would be great to keep in a vehicle glove compartment. It would also be ideal for a camping trip or to take along on a hike. If you have teens beginning to drive, or young adults moving into the dorms, this is an excellent kit to have in their first car or to keep in their dorm room. I would be perfectly comfortable having my teenagers carry it in their backpacks at school in case of emergency. There is also just enough space left so if you are going away for the weekend, you could put some allergy or headache medication in a sandwich baggie in there as well. The only change I would make to what they already have is to add a couple extra pairs of gloves; they currently only include one set. If you come across an accident, you always want to have extras. If someone has larger hands and accidentally tears one, or someone else on scene needs some, it's simply impractical to have one pair. Otherwise, this is a great compact first aid kit.

I received this item at a discount or free for my honest opinion. I have no affiliation with the manufacturer of the product or the seller of the item, and I do not receive any financial compensation. My opinion is entirely my own. I hope the information provided is helpful in some way.
   
https://www.amazon.com/Lightweight-Compact-100-Piece-Complete-Water-Resistant/dp/B01DYYCX6M/

 #TripWorthy

Old School Oil Lamps

I grew up along Atlantic coast of Florida, so hurricanes and emergency weather situations were a normal part of life. We experienced power outages on a regular basis, and my family had old-fashioned hurricane lamps--and yes, we used them. As you may have seen, I have been trying out various types of camping lanterns lately. However, I don't want to rely on only modern technology if SHTF. For that reason, we picked up a oil-based camping lantern. It's been so long since I've used one I wanted to brush up on them, plus I had a lot of questions from a survivalist's point of view. Can you make your own wicks? Are certain types of oils better than others? So I started digging online, and it became abundantly clear that one person really knows her stuff. I learned more from her post than I thought possible. If you plan on using an oil lamp, please take the time to check it out. It is worth it, I assure you.

  Tips and Tricks for Using Oil Lamps (by Preparedness Pro)

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

SKIVU Extreme Pak Digital Camo Water Resistant Backpack: Review

Let me say first of all that I am the one who ordered this pack. I am a wife and a mom of two teenagers. I volunteer with the local community emergency response team, I shoot a variety of weapons on a regular basis. My family routinely enjoys outdoor activities like camping, fishing, shooting compound bow, and survival activities. My husband is a former peace officer and is a weapons armorer. We go through our fair share of gear in this house!

I received my SKIVU Extreme Pak Digital Camo Water-Resistant Backpack three days after placing my order. It was unidentifiable on the outside, so anyone with prying eyes could not tell what was on the inside of the box. There has been an issue lately in our neighborhood with snooping so I appreciate those little steps that are taken to protect belongings.

This is a decent, small-to-medium size backpack with Molle strapping around the sides, the front, and on the bottom itself. The Molle strapping appears to be Mil-Spec. The zippers have extended pulls, which are great for use with gloved hands. The carry handle at the top has reinforced stitching and is comfortable. The edges are wrapped in over themselves for increased comfort. There is cummerbund strap that is adjustable. The zippers do have a cover to aid in water resistance. The pack does have strapped buckles that are to aid in heavier loads. The tag says "Made in China" though there is a US flag on the same tag, as it has "original stitching" and the design was "American-inspired."

The pockets are sewn on with single stitch. The zippers are sewn on with two rows of single stitch, not a true double stitch. The Molle straps are actually double stitched. The material is not Mil-Spec cordura, but feels more like a plastic. The Molle straps for the most part are Mil-Spec, except for the middle column, which does not allow a Mil-Spec D-ring through because this row is too small. The Molle straps on the sides are interesting: on one side, one column is mil-spec, but the other columns are not. On the other side, none of the columns of Molle straps are Mil-Spec at all. The Molle straps on the bottom are the same as the front (they are Mil-Spec except for the middle column). I used one of my D-rings to attach a water filter straw, so having Molle straps is a great, especially having so many of them. 

The cordage used for the zipper pulls is a bit thin and I am afraid will wear out easily over time. The covers over the zipper may make it water resistant, but I find myself zipping the cover into the zipper every time I open and close the pack. That may get easier with use. The padded insert in the back is removable and replaceable with something more comfortable if desired. You could even put a hydration bladder inside if you wanted. This is a nice feature. At the top near the handle, there are two outlets for either a hydration tube (or headphones).

The cummerbund strap keeps sliding up and down, but it can be adjusted and moved to a higher spot so it is more of a chest strap as opposed to a belly strap. This will make it more functional. There are two D-rings on the shoulder straps. They are placed in an excellent position but made out of a thin material, too thin for a very practical use. The shoulder straps themselves are a bit uncomfortable. 

A great addition to this pack would be a handle on the side, which would make it easier to carry in a suitcase fashion, and some Velcro on the front would be awesome for a couple of patches. This would make a great vehicle medical kit, or an additional kit of some sort (pet gear, children's emergency supplies, etc). I would not suggest it for a Bug Out Bag, or for serious use out in the field. I would have no problem using it for a vehicle emergency kit though. I would not trust it to hold more than fifteen to twenty pounds at most, as the bottom is a bit thin for my comfort level.

I received this item at a free or discounted price for my honest opinion. I do not receive any financial compensation for my review. My opinion is entirely my own. As an Amazon customer, I rely on reviews when I make my own purchases; I aim to help other customers by providing thoroughly written reviews.

https://www.amazon.com/Extreme-Digital-Camo-Water-Resistant-Backpack/dp/B00MZT089W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1470690156&sr=8-1&keywords=B00MZT089W

#EXTREMEPAK

Bully Sticks & Beef Tendons by WyldLife Pets: Review

I am almost a month into training my new service dog, as I started training him the first day I got him. He is just about eight months old, a German Shepherd weighing in at a whopping 75 pounds, and it's guesstimated that he he will be around 95-100 pounds when he is full grown. My previous service dog passed earlier this year. One of the things I learned during the two year certification process I underwent with her was to use different levels of treats as rewards during training: low, medium, and high level. High level rewards are for very special reasons. It tells them they have truly done something amazing and unforgettable. I am figuring on using the bully sticks for normal, every day treats for him and for my other two little dogs, and the tendons for those special high level rewards.

I received the Bully Sticks & Beef Tendons quickly. What I first noticed is that they come in a bag that is resealable. This is tremendously appreciated, as this is a great time saver, not having to repackage anything. Who wants to spend extra time doing that, especially when already taking care of two little dogs on top of training a service dog basically around the clock? 

Another thing I think these would be great for is when we go camping, hiking, or other outdoor activities. Let's face it. There are times when we need to occupy the attention of our dogs for a little while, and it needs to be done in a safe, productive manner. These are ideal. I know the dogs love them, they are all natural, and I can trust them. What better product to give my pups while out enjoying nature than something 100% natural?

The sticks and tendons are separated into two wrapped sections of their own that can be opened when ready. The tendons are a bit greasy, but this doesn't bother me. It just says to me that it's a real animal part. After all, there are no chemicals, no artificial ingredients in these. I doubt dog lovers will be bothered by a slightly greasy feel, if they are concerned about providing quality snacks and treats for their four-legged friends. It's just a thought anyway, but maybe I have been swayed by years of doggie drool. 

I admit it: I did not test the tendons myself. I had my German Shepherd, Cyrus, try them. I can only attest to the container, the feel of the snacks, and such as this. I can tell though how Cy reacted. He gladly went into a "Sit" command, gently took the tendon, pranced around our yard like he was King of the Jungle. Then he came back over to me--twice no less--as if to see if I would hand over another one despite him still having the first one hanging out of his mouth. He realized he would have to settle for just eating one, and went and did a "Settle" on his favorite patch of grass and had a ball with his tendon. Cy was a happy camper for a very long time, just chomping and licking away. I like that the WyldLife snacks are natural and from the United States as well.

I received this item at a heavily discounted price for my honest opinion. I have no affiliation with the manufacturer of the product or the seller of the item, and I do not receive any financial compensation for my review. My opinion is entirely my own. As a long-time shopper, I rely on the reviews of others when I make my own purchases; I aim to help other people by providing thoroughly written reviews.

#wyldlifepets

Click the link below if you would like to read more about the WyldLife Bully Sticks & Beef Tendons:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B018F0S1EI/ref=twister_B018F0S1AM?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Survive and Thrive!

Ok, first things first. We didn't name this a "prepping" blog because that word has taken on a negative connotation of late, thanks to the crazy shows on television. We are a family of four that simply believes it is more intelligent to be prepared and have supplies on hand should the need arise, than to have something happen and be SOL (shit out of luck). At that point, you're completely screwed because it's too late once the SHTF (shit hits the fan) and you're wishing you had done something about it sooner, right?

That's why we're here. We are going to post regularly, featuring an array of products that can help you prepare to survive just about any situation imaginable. You don't have to only just barely survive an awful emergency, but you can thrive through it. 

For now, let us introduce ourselves. I'm a former middle school teacher and also worked in the medical field. I stopped working outside the home due to chronic illness. I now review products for online sellers. My spouse is a former peace officer, a certified gun armorer. We have two children who just started high school. We are all avid campers, and enjoy activities such as target shooting (firearms and compound bow), fishing, camp cooking, and stargazing here in the desert with our three dogs (two wee terrier mixes and a massive German Shepherd who thinks he's tiny too).

We'd love to hear from you! Please leave comments with any questions or comments with ideas for topics you would like us to cover. We have a huge list going, so there's going to be lots coming your way and we'd love to add to it!

Until next time, stay safe!