Our food supply chain is vulnerable and experiencing food shortages is a very real possibility. Medical supplies and other necessities are vulnerable too. #urbansurvivalsite #urbansurvival #citysurvival #shtf #foodshortages
The post The Terrifying Danger Of Our Just-In-Time Food Delivery System appeared first on Urban Survival Site.
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Buying a tent may seem simple at first glance. But, with so many options on the market, how do you choose one that’s not too big, not too expensive, but “just right?” That’s why I wrote this guide. Inside, you’ll learn everything you need to know about picking a tent. We’ll go over what factors to look for and how to compare tents side-by-side, so you can buy the one that’s perfect for you and your needs. Without further adieu, let’s get right into it.
First, decide what type of material you want. How much rain do you anticipate during your camping trip? What will the temperature be like? (Hint: Plan on colder and wetter than Google says it will be). Most tents are made out of synthetic fabrics – nylon or polyester. Family tents are generally made out of polyester, while backpacking tents are usually nylon (to cut down weight). Another material used is canvas. Canvas was commonly used in the past since it was a breathable material available before polyesters were. While synthetic fabrics are cheaper and lighter, they have flaws. For instance, they’re weaker than canvas when it comes to insulation. This could pose a problem if you’re camping in harsh winter conditions.
Your tent’s performance against water is crucial. Why? No one likes sleeping in the rain (duh). But, how can you tell how waterproof a tent is?
Thankfully, synthetic materials are rated based on how much water they let in. The rating is called “millimeters of hydrostatic head,” or “mm HH.” Without getting into the nitty-gritty, this metric measures how much pressure is needed for water to pierce the tent. Higher mm HH? Better water resistance. To achieve higher mm HH, manufacturers use better materials and thicker waterproofing spray. That’s cool, but how much waterproofing do you need?
Although mm HH is an accurate measurement, it’s not everything for water resistance. Some tents might have higher mm HH, but lower durability. That’s why it’s important to scan reviews before purchasing your tent. Generally, you want at least 1,000mm HH on the outside of your tent, and at least 5,000mm HH on the floor (to keep your butt dry).
The next factor is what size tent you’ll need. It’s tempting to want the most enormous tent available to feel like “king of the castle,” but we’re trying to have fun here, not break the bank. Obviously, the easiest way to determine the ideal tent size is to consider how many people will be using it. If you’re a lone wolf, then something small and light should be a solid choice. But, if you have a group with you, the numbers can get tricky. My pro-tip is to never rely on manufacturer labeling, and here’s why.
Just because a tent’s called a “4-person tent”, that doesn’t mean it’ll be comfy for four people. It means there’s enough room for four average people to lie down like stick figures with their elbows touching. So, I recommend adding “two people” to the tent size when considering a tent. That’ll give you plenty of room to stretch your legs and store your bags.
In the example above, a four-person group should go for a six-person tent, so your whole family can sleep easy.
You should also consider how far away your campsite is from your parking spot since you’re going to have to lug the tent over there. If it’s just a few yards from your car, then a heftier tent shouldn’t be a problem. But, backpackers should get the smallest tent possible to keep their bags light.
It might seem insignificant, you should pay close attention to the warranty when comparing tents. Some would argue that it’s a trivial detail since, if you pick a good tent, you’ll never need to use the warranty. I usually agree with that, but you never know when a raccoon will bite holes in your tent (it happens). That being said, I think the warranty’s length is a direct reflection of the manufacturer’s confidence in their products. If the warranty only lasts a few months, that’s a red flag in my book. It says that the very people who made the tent expect it to break down in under a year. In contrast, a warranty of one, two, or even three years shows that they’ve built it with longevity in mind. My favorite example of this is Patagonia. They offer an “Ironclad Guarantee” on all their products
Of course, you should always think about the price of a tent before purchasing it. Buy a quality tent, but make sure you don’t go overboard. When you find a new passion, it’s easy to get carried away, loading up on gear. I know when I started fishing, I bought so many random lures and baits that my wife thought I was crazy.
There are countless deluxe tents out there with more bells and whistles than anyone can count. But, you should only buy gear that you can afford (without putting yourself in a pinch with upcoming bills). I’m not saying that you shouldn’t pay for quality. But, there’s a fine line between getting a high-performance tent and throwing cash at something because it looks pretty. Now, if you’re planning on backpacking for months on end, you should probably splurge on your tent. But, most family campers shouldn’t worry about getting a top-of-the-line tent. Camping decisions should be practical. So, if you empty your wallet for silly ego reasons, then you’ve defeated the purpose of the activity before even setting your tent up. Camping is supposed to remove stress, not increase it.
There are some key features to look for in your tent. You likely won’t be able to get all of them in a single tent (without clearing out your bank account), so aim for as many as possible.
Some tents come with fiberglass poles, but they are far more fragile than their aluminum brethren. They also tend to fragment into sharp needles when they break. So, look for aluminum poles whenever choosing a tent to maximize durability and safety.
Whenever possible, pick a tent that has a roof vent. This will work wonders for air circulation and thus prevent any condensation problems that may otherwise arise. It will also keep you from feeling suffocated during hot weather.
The zippers of your tent will see the most use since you’ll always be opening and closing it during camping trips. All this heavy use can lead to wear and tear, so look for zippers that are heavy-duty to ensure a long lifespan. My favorite zipper brand is YKK. Look at the zipper tab to see who manufactured it.
As you can see, picking the right tent can actually be rather easy once you get the formula down. No one can tell you what the BEST tent is since it merely doesn’t exist. The ideal tent will vary from one person to the next, depending on their specific needs, so go find yours!
Mike Miller is the founder of Wilderness Times. After realizing he was spending way too much time in front of a laptop and not enough time in nature, he decided to do something about it. Nowadays you can find him outside, hiking, camping, and having all sorts of outdoor adventures.
Note – Bringing this around today because I know many of you are working on various aquaponic and hydroponic projects and starting plants indoors. Trust me 10 bucks for this timer is money well spent on any of that stuff. … Continue reading →
Century 24 Hour Mechanical Timer – Item of the Day Read More »
After visiting San Diego in my youth I thought how wonderful it would be to live in a climate that had roughly one season. True San Diego does experience four seasons but not like where I live. The thought of a perpetual summer was enticing. More time to play in the warm weather and not having to wear a lot of different clothing or layers. Alas I never moved and as I got older I am very happy that I didn’t. True four seasons keeps it interesting. There is a joy that I get in each season and watching the cycle. With the cycle of seasons though comes a very important lesson in layering. With ever fluctuating temperatures and weather conditions one cannot just count on a single piece of clothing to shrug off what mother nature throws at you. One must understand how to layer their clothing. Of course this is beneficial in our daily lives but even more so when a survival situation occurs, because your clothing is your first shelter.
By Grimm, contributing author to SHTFblog and Survival Cache
In a modern day world where houses, apartments, condos i.e. shelters are everywhere, its hard to imagine a moment when you cant access one but it happens. People get locked out or lost. Vehicles break down or crash. Which that thought brings me to a great example of poor layering. I was driving home from work and it was December. I was wearing my work shirt, pants and a leather jacket. Easily enough to keep me warm in my heated car or inside my work which is heated. Needless to say I was rear ended and I had to stand outside on the side of the road while police came and tow trucks dragged my totaled car away. I was freezing. I did not layer properly. I had two layers tops and nothing to cover my head or hands. Now I always make sure I have decent layers no matter where I go and you should as well.
These layers, which usually amounts to three, help keep the body protected from the elements. Rain, snow and wind can chill the body down together or separately causing hypothermia. Wind and sun can rob the body of moisture causing hyperthermia. These layers shrug off the wind, rain or snow or shield the body from the suns UV rays. Now you might ask why usually three. Well just like how the weather changes frequently so does your physical activity. More physical activity means more heat and possible perspiration. So layers can be taken off to keep cool and limit sweat. Remember sweat is produced to cool the body down. That’s good but just like rain it will affect the insulating properties of your clothing. Having layers gives the person the ability to adapt to the weather changes as well as their activity.
Check out: It’s Winter! Don’t Go Hiking Without Proper Clothing!
Another point to consider, though one might have good layers on do not forget about your head, neck, hands and feet. I understand that wearing two pairs of socks is not always an option in our daily routine but a hat, scarf, and gloves can go a long way to help the body stay protected. I know if I merely had a wool hat and scarf when I was in my accident I could have been a bit warmer on that day. True I wasn’t in a survival situation that day but next time I might not be as lucky. Of course this blog only touches the tip of the iceberg when it comes to layering so check out the video for more helpful information on Layers to Live by.
Bug Out Tip: Layers To Live By Read More »
Hello Pack. I hope you all are enjoying this new year and new decade so far. Preps have been a bit slow this week, at least outdoors, due to weather. But, that has given us more time to get some inventory lists finished up, to do some canning, and to continue working on our annual Preps To Do Chapter Book for 2020. I am pleased to say that keeping one of Pearl’s most recent kids was a wise choice.
What I Did To Prep This Week – Week 77: January 5th 2020 – January 11th 2020 Read More »
Jan. 10 is the last day to save up to $70 on Early Bird Registration for the National Safety Council Northeast Conference & Expo, set to take place March 11-13 in Pittsburgh. Don’t miss out – register now and save.
Last chance to save: NSC Northeast Conference & Expo Read More »
SHOT Show 2020 Party List: Networking Events, Parties, and Meetups at SHOT
It’s that time a year again, where the top industry experts and companies from the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting accessories industry make their way to Las Vegas. OFFGRID Survival will be covering the show […]
This Article SHOT Show 2020 Party List: Networking Events, Parties, and Meetups at SHOT is an original article from OFFGRID Survival If it is appearing on any other site but OFFGRID Survival, that site does not have our permission to use our copyrighted content!
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This is the birthday of actor and competitive shooter Robert Stack (1919-2003.) — As with most Mondays, today we feature a product review by our Field Gear Editor, Pat Cascio.
The post Preparedness Notes for Monday — January 13, 2020 appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.
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a few projects going on in the shop Read More »
Every day I bring you an item on Amazon that I personally use or has been purchased by many members of the audience and I have researched enough to recommend. Today’s TSP Amazon Item of the day is General Hydroponics … Continue reading →
General Hydroponics Rapid Rooter Grow Plugs – Item of the Day Read More »
