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

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

   

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

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