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

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

Emergency Supplies to Keep at Home

Preparedness Kit
This list is a compilation of items to keep at home in case of a serious event, such as a natural disaster or a crisis in society. Should evacuation be required, already having these items prepared will be of great help. Please consider the personal needs of your household’s members, such as any medical, dental, or emotional needs, and add them to the list to make it your own. (Another post is soon to come for a detailed medical kit.)

Water: One gallon per person, per day. Keep at least a 2-week supply at home. If evacuating, take along a 3-day supply.
Food: Non-perishable. Same as above.
Flashlights
Radio (hand-crank doesn’t require batteries)

Two-way radios for communication, as the Internet may be down

Batteries, if needed

Solar devices to charge any of your items, if needed

Multi-purpose tool

Gas valve shut-off tool

Hygiene items
Copies of important documents, in waterproof file (identification, passports, wills, medical information, deed/mortgage paperwork, birth certificates, marriage certificate, insurance policies, bank info)
Cell phone with charger
Contact info
Cash
Map(s)
Extra keys
Manual can opener
Whistle (one for each person)
Matches in waterproof container

550 Paracord
Work gloves
Items to secure home (boards & nails for windows, duct tape to prevent flying glass, etc.)
Towels

Clothing/Shoes (appropriate for situation)
Socks (Take note of socks. In a crisis, power may be out for extended periods, making for long, hard work days with no end in sight. Feet take the brunt of it all. Good socks are a necessity.)

Plastic sheeting
Duct tape

Tarp

Sharpie-type marker(s)
Scissors
Entertainment items (Everyone needs a sanity saver, especially in difficult times. Playing cards, notebooks, drawing pads, crayons...)
Sleeping gear

Basic cooking items (A cast iron dutch oven with a lid is great for about everything, along with a basic cast iron pan, utensils, and hot pads.)

5-gallon bucket: multi-purpose. Flush a toilet (pour bucket of water into toilet); wash clothes or dishes. There are even lids specially designed to turn a 5-gal bucket into a potty.

Household chlorine bleach (For emergencies only, you can treat unsafe or suspect water with 16 drops of liquid bleach per gallon of water. NO SCENTED OR COLOR SAFE BLEACH. Only straight household liquid chlorine bleach!)

Pet supplies (including leash, photos w/pet, and copies of shot records)

First aid kit