Home Safety

In an emergency, you can’t always rely on having fuel to cook. Solar cookers allow you to cook using just the sun, but not all solar cookers are created equal. Here’s what we think of the GoSun Sport.

You’re reading GoSun Sport Solar Stove Cooker Review, originally posted at Graywolf Survival – Emergency preparedness from a Counterintelligence Agent by Graywolf.

December 31st is the birthday of both Alexander Solzhenitsyn (pictured) and Alexander Graham Bell. — And December 31st, 1851 was the birthday of Frederick Selous. (He died on January 4th, 1917.) – This is also the birthday of Dr. Cynthia Koelker, SurvivalBlog’s Medical Editor.

The post Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — December 31, 2019 appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.

The post National Bacon Day giveaway. appeared first on Surviving and Thriving.

Are you on the look-out for an cuben-fibre shelter with two entries & vestibules, that is easy to pitch and keeps the bugs out? Then you should read my review of the Dirigo 2 from Hyperlite Mountain Gear!

Disclosure: This article has been supported financially and with gear from Hyperlite Mountain Gear. As you know: I’m keepin’ it real and tell you how it is – I maintain full editorial control of the content published on Hiking in Finland. Read the Transparency Disclaimer for more information on the affiliate links in this article & blogger transparency.

tl;dr

Simple to pitch, spacious for one, and good for dry environments where you will encounter a lot of bugs, that’s where the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Dirigo 2 shines as an ultralight shelter. In humid and wet environments, if you’re tall or you hike with a friend then you might not find this shelter the best option.

Time

I received the Dirigo 2 in the spring of 2019 and slept in it a dozen nights in Finland and Germany.

Function

The function of this tent is to keep you protected from bugs, critters and rain when you are sleeping outdoors. It’s a hybrid single + double wall design which pitches with two trekking poles and has two entries and vestibules.

Features

The features as per Hyperlite Mountain Gear:

• Easy entry and exit for two with dual entry
• Breathable panels at head and foot to combat condensation
• Two vestibules for exterior gear storage with #5 YKK Aquaguard® Zippers
• Two large mesh walls for maximum ventilation
• Pitches with two trekking poles and eight stakes
• Carbon Fiber ‘Ridge Bar’ adds superior strength and stability
• Reflective guy-out points
• Internal mesh hanging stow pocket
• Internal D-rings for clothesline
• Two side wall guy-out points for increased internal space
• Fully seam-sealed
• Line-locs on all guy-out points
• Includes X-Large Drawstring Stuff Sack for storage
• Made in Biddeford, Maine, USA

Technical Innovations

In the last couple of years I have felt there haven’t been that much innovations in backpacking. This time I’d say the use of breathable DCF-WPB (that’s the breathable Cuben material, the same which is used in The Shell) is an innovation, although I’m not totally convinced that the small panels are enough or at the right place. Also, other companies already have used breathable cuben (with eVent) for several years in shelters.

Quality

I found the quality of the Dirigo 2 excellent. High-quality materials assembled by precise craftsmen & women in Maine – yes, this is a “Made in the USA” product that is superbly crafted and deserves this label.

Weight

The weight of my Dirigo 2 was 802 g, that includes all guylines. The included Drawstring Stuff Sack is 13 g, while the stake set with 8 Easton Stakes is 114 g or ~14 g per stake. So everything together is 929 g for this shelter.

In use

As I was just writing about weight, you’ll need to also think about the weight of your Poles, though these do not count directly to the weight of the shelter. I use Ruta Locura Yana Poles (together with the Black Diamond Ultra Distance Poles probably my favourite trekking poles) which are 106 g per Pole. As I also use these throughout the day and do not carry them they aren’t included in the weight of the shelter, but obviously are needed. And as you read above, I use the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Stake Kit, and those are heavy. You could use much lighter Titanium pegs which are 5 g or less, then your stake set of 8 would be 40 g – quite a saving. However, I trust the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Stakes more in soft, wet ground and high winds, so I rather carry these instead of having some pegs pulled out by the wind.

Now at 802 g the Dirigo 2 is lightweight, but there are lighter alternatives – especially for two persons. The Ultamid 2 from Hyperlite Mountain Gear themselves is 534 g but does not include a bug netting (that would be 418 g extra if you take their own) or ground sheet. Personally I take a bivy with the Ultamid 2 as it adds to the flexibility of the shelter (I only have to pitch it when I know it will rain, and can sleep with just the bivy when the stars are out). Competitors like Big Agnes have the Scout 2 out, which in the Platinum Version weighs around 500 g – but also has no vestibule or dual entry. From the cottages both the StratoSpire Li from Tarptent and the ZPacks Duplex are of similar construction, weight and price.

The Dirigo 2 has a good interior height, this is achieved by the two trekking poles and the short carbon strut at the peak which creates more inside space. The trekking poles are angled and go into a grommet at the bottom and into a small reinforced pocket at the peak, this makes for a solid frame in high winds when the doors are closed. If you open the doors and roll them up you can enjoy great views, though this weakens the tent in high winds quite a bit. However, in reality you only will roll up the doors when the weather is good, so it really is a non-issue. Also on the inside is a small mesh pocket, I have used this for my headlamp to illuminate the tent and that has worked well. I really like the high roof and comfortable sitting height.

OK, for where is this tent made? It has a groundsheet (= GREAT for very wet environments) and No-See-Um mesh walls which keep the Bugs out (GREAT against mosquitos, ticks, deer flies and other critters and insects). However, in wet environments condensation is an issue and so I feel the Dirigo 2 is much better suited for trips in dry and bug-infested environments. If you mostly go backpacking in the spring and summer and encounter at your camp spots lots of bugs, this is a great choice. If you’re out year around, often in wet conditions, then this might not be the best option for you (then the Ultamid 2 should be your choice).

Something I also really liked about the tent was how easy it is to pitch. Spread it out in a square, peg out the corners, enter the trekking poles and adjust their height, peg out the doors and then the side panels and Voilá! you’re done. After some practice you’re able to pitch this tent in two to three minutes, and thanks to it’s design the inside will mostly stay dry if you pitch in the rain. Putting the tent down is equally simple, I like to fold it up once from each long side to the middle and then once in the middle, this lets me squeeze out any trapped air easily and I can roll up the Dirigo 2 into a small package. Attention only has to be paid to the carbon fibre strut and that it stays where it’s supposed to be, as sometimes it slips out and needs to be put back into place when you’re setting up the tent. The Dirigo 2 can be set up higher or lower depending on how much airflow you wish or how much drafts you want to avoid. I had no problems with drafts even when the outer was pitched 10 cm or more high, by choosing not completely exposed sites.

And then there’s the packed size. I was surprised by how large the tent is packed, and had to carry it usually in my front mesh pocket (which was the best choice after rainy nights). It packs, even when dry, fairly big, and I often found the included Drawstring bag too small for it – though as I usually just stuffed the rolled-up tent into the front pocket, this was not a problem.

Could be better

I do think the Dirigo 2 could do with more interior space to make it less cramped for two people. Right now it is a solid 1-Person tent, though I would not use it with another adult. I also wonder why the Breathable Cuben was only used in the lower parts of the design, and not also at the top or over the whole side panel (it’s probably a cost thing). This would likely help to minimize or even eliminate the condensation issue. Also, while not really an issue for me, I do think the Dirigo 2 doors would benefit from a buckle at the bottom of the zipper which takes the stress of the zipper, that would make the zippers survive longer and also allow you to open the zipper while keeping the structural integrity more solid I imagine.

Bottomline

Are you mostly out in the summer, like to camp above the treeline, do encounter lots of bugs, like to have a groundsheet and generally a fully enclosed shelter? Then the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Dirigo 2 is a good choice for you. It is excellently made, spacious for one, durable and sheds wind very well, while keeping the bugs and rain out. It is simple and easy to use, and does it’s job of protecting you from rain and bugs very well. All that does come at a price, as at $795 you almost pay $1 per gram of shelter. If you’re usually out with friends in wet and humid environments then you might be better off to use a modular setup with more space, something like the Ultamid 2 or one of the many other pyramid designs out there.

If you found this review useful, please buy the Dirigo 2 directly from Hyperlite Mountain Gear via my Affiliate Link. That way you support me at no additional costs to you!

More photos can be found in the Flickr Album!

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I was just down in the bunker sorting my kit out, for potential self-defense escapades against tyranny, right here in Ole Virginny. I took some photos and thought I would use it as an excuse to talk about gear. Yay!

Anyone that knows me and follows my writings and YouTube Channel, will know that I have expressed a lot of different opinions and options with gear. Essentially, it depends on the situation. While getting this load-out squared away, with the potential to have to defend myself and community against tyranny in Virginia in 2020, I had some specific thoughts in mind. I’ll go through the rationale.

First though: my gear is all multicam, and I am putting this post out on the internet (which is always a mistake). No doubt people will have reason to take issue with that. Go for it. I don’t care. If you have kit in a certain camo pattern, and don’t want to give that overall impression, just break it up with the rest of the stuff that you wear. If you are really upset about it, rattle-can it. Moving on.

Right: Ballistic Plates. I think you would be nuts to go into the sort of situation we may have brewing here, without plates. You need a plate carrier. Ballistic plates only cover a certain area and are not foolproof, but they will seriously reduce the risk of penetrating trauma to the thoracic cavity. Yes, MVT is a dealer for the best plates on the market (ShotStop), and in this plate carrier I have the ShotStop 10×12 SAPI Cut Green Tip Plates. They each weigh 4.6 lb, which is a total weight of 9.2 lb. Worth it. These plates are also thin, and that makes a huge difference compared to some of the Green Tip type plates out there, for overall wearability and comfort. They are out of stock of shooters cut Green Tip till February, but have SAPI cut in stock. Plates HERE.

I think we may be facing a cluster of disorganized combat in urban and semi-urban environments. This will do two things: it will allow you to go relativity light in terms of sustainment gear, thus compensating for the weight of the plates. It will also mean that the more protection you can wear, the better. I have talked before about reasons why you may want to dump the plates, such as heat and operating environment. If this evolves into something more prolonged and rural, over the heat of summer, then you will need more sustainment gear and may want to sideline the plates (until needed).

Above is a front view of my plate carrier. It is a FirstSpear AAC, with the tubes (love those things). I got the option with the 3 mag pouches sewn to the front. I then took 3 x KYWI inserts and put them in the mag pouches, thus giving me kydex mag retention. I have an admin pouch up top above the mags. On bottom, I have a TQ in a little holder that I purchased.

Above is a side view of the PC. I put an additional 2 x mags on the side (under my left arm) in a tactical tailor pouch, which together with the 3 on the front makes 5 mags on the PC. 5 + 2 on the belt + 1 on the rifle= 8 mags. That is first line scales. Who is bringing the resupply?

There is a radio in the little wing pouches which hang off the side of the front plate panel, and sit under the cummerbund. Don’t get excited about the radio: it is simply a knock-off Chinese version of the 152, and works on normal civilian radio frequencies. It is hardened and a good bit of kit, and works will all military ancillaries, hence the love. Currently the antenna is routed to the back of the PC.

You can see the hydration tube coming over from the back. I only have a 1.5 liter hydration bag currently on the back of the PC.

The right side of the rig simply has a GP Pouch attached to the cummerbund. For useful stuff.

Above is a back left view, showing the Tyr Tactical zip-on Huron Assaulter Pack. There are several versions that Tyr Tactical sells, and they sell the zipper kit that will attach to a non-Tyr PC such as this FirstSpear. The compression zip on this bag is currently unzipped, giving more volume to the pack. This pack also comes with a beavertail (removable) which allows you to carry a helmet on the back. Given that if you are wearing this during the day your NODS need to go inside it and you need a way to mount them to your head, which means either carry a helmet or a nightcap. A helmet poking out the back will be a pain in the butt, but then again if it’s a firefight, you may want to put it on your head!

These assaulter packs on the back of a PC are a whole realm of pain-in-the-butt. On the one hand, they are small and thus limit the idea of carrying too much gear. They also don’t have straps, so this reduces the strappage on your shoulders. But you need a buddy to get anything out of them, as you can’t simply swing the pack down to access. You do have a buddy in a firefight, right?

However, wearing any sort of backpack over a PC is annoying, particularly when you have water in a hydration bladder. With an assaulter pack zipped on, it gets into a whole realm of fuckery. Thus, if you are going to wear a backpack, zip off the assaulter pack and put it away, and have a hydration bladder in the backpack itself. I am working with Diz on a solution for a better experience wearing a decent sized backpack over a plate carrier. Hopefully it arrives before the boogaloo!

Remember that the more kit you carry, particularly on top of a PC, will weigh you down and make you a tactical no-go. The Fight Lite concept is that you go as light as is practical to go, so long as you have with you what you need to achieve the mission.

Above: back view of the PC with the Tyr Assaulter Panel.

Above: back right view of the PC, with Tyr panel.

Below is the main photo again, with the items on the battle belt listed.

Let’s hope that getting this kit together is simply a false alarm, and the tyrants in Richmond wind their necks in and crawl back under their rocks. I really don’t want to be forced, with the rest of Virginia, into a fight to defend our Constitutional rights. One thing is certain, and that is that the leftists, and tyranny, never quit.

One thing that has so far gone unstated in this post, so I’ll get a final dig in: to carry this kit, you have to do physical fitness. You have to be in a modicum of decent physical shape. If you can’t breathe, you can’t fight. The 9.2lb for the plates is easily carried if you get in shape. Most people could probably lose that amount of body weight and carry the plates at no cost. The second part of that is training, to build skills, situational awareness, and battle sense. Without both of those, you may be able to look somewhat of the part at an armed rally, but once the rounds start flying, you’ll look like a bag of crap.

We are working hard in Culpeper County, Virginia, to fight back lawfully against proposed treason from the Governor’s office. We have a Culpeper County 2A Facebook page which is doing really well. We succeeded, with the help of a sympathetic Board of Supervisors, to pass a ‘Constitutional County Resolution.’

Sheriff Jenkins, the consummate politician, is getting a lot of positive PR across social media. However, the jury remains out on his true commitment to the 2A. He spoke, and confirmed, at both BOS meetings, and explained that he could not make decisions on what laws may be unconstitutional until they were passed. There is nothing complicated about an infringement to VA and US Constitutional 2A rights. He appears to be hedging. He has said that there is no limit to the number of auxiliary Sheriffs deputies that he could create; a background check and 8 hours per month voluntary service is not your natural 2A right. It is indentured servitude in order to be allowed to carry / own a firearm. We have not written him off, but he needs to confirm his position and stop politicking.

Governor Northam proposes Treason and Violence against the peaceful citizens of Virginia:

It is vital that we are clear on this, and the true legal position. This is a Constitutional Republic and we do not have our natural rights taken from us by the mob. Any law that is repugnant to the Constitution is No Law. To threaten gun confiscation is treason, and an implicit threat of violence against Virginia Citizens.

“Asked whether he (Governor Northam) supports confiscating assault weapons from gun owners, Northam demurred. ‘That’s something I’m working [on] with our secretary of public safety,” he said. “I’ll work with the gun violence activists, and we’ll work [on] that. I don’t have a definitive plan today.’”

Code of Virginia

§ 18.2-46.5. Committing, conspiring and aiding and abetting acts of terrorism prohibited; penalty.

A. Any person who commits or conspires to commit, or aids and abets the commission of an act of terrorism, as defined in § 18.2-46.4, is guilty of a Class 2 felony if the base offense of such act of terrorism may be punished by life imprisonment, or a term of imprisonment of not less than twenty years.

B. Any person who commits, conspires to commit, or aids and abets the commission of an act of terrorism, as defined in § 18.2-46.4, is guilty of a Class 3 felony if the maximum penalty for the base offense of such act of terrorism is a term of imprisonment or incarceration in jail of less than twenty years.

C. Any person who solicits, invites, recruits, encourages, or otherwise causes or attempts to cause another to participate in an act or acts of terrorism, as defined in § 18.2-46.4, is guilty of a Class 4 felony.

D. Any person who knowingly provides any material support (i) to an individual or organization whose primary objective is to commit an act of terrorism and (ii) does so with the intent to further such individual’s or organization’s objective is guilty of a Class 3 felony. If the death of any person results from providing any material support, then the person who provided such material support is guilty of a Class 2 felony.

§ 18.2-46.4. Definitions.

As used in this article, unless the context requires otherwise or it is otherwise provided:

“Act of terrorism” means an act of violence as defined in clause (i) of subdivision A of § 19.2-297.1 or an act that would be an act of violence if committed within the Commonwealth committed within or outside the Commonwealth with the intent to (i) intimidate a civilian population at large or (ii) influence the conduct or activities of a government, including the government of the United States, a state, or a locality, through intimidation.

“Base offense” means an act of violence as defined in clause (i) of subdivision A of § 19.2-297.1 committed with the intent required to commit an act of terrorism.

§ 19.2-297.1. Sentence of person twice previously convicted of certain violent felonies.

A. Any person convicted of two or more separate acts of violence when such offenses were not part of a common act, transaction or scheme, and who has been at liberty as defined in § 53.1-

151 between each conviction, shall, upon conviction of a third or subsequent act of violence, be sentenced to life imprisonment and shall not have all or any portion of the sentence suspended, provided it is admitted, or found by the jury or judge before whom he is tried, that he has been previously convicted of two or more such acts of violence. For the purposes of this section, “act of violence” means (i) any one of the following violations of Chapter 4 (§ 18.2-30 et seq.) of Title 18.2:

a. First and second degree murder and voluntary manslaughter under Article 1 (§ 18.2-30 et seq.);

b. Mob-related felonies under Article 2 (§ 18.2-38 et seq.);

c. Any kidnapping or abduction felony under Article 3 (§ 18.2-47 et seq.);

d. Any malicious felonious assault or malicious bodily wounding under Article 4 (§ 18.2-51 et seq.);

e. Robbery under § 18.2-58 and carjacking under § 18.2-58.1;

f. Except as otherwise provided in § 18.2-67.5:2 or § 18.2-67.5:3, criminal sexual assault punishable as a felony under Article 7 (§ 18.2-61 et seq.); or

g. Arson in violation of § 18.2-77 when the structure burned was occupied or a Class 3 felony violation of § 18.2-79.

(ii) conspiracy to commit any of the violations enumerated in clause (i) of this section; and (iii) violations as a principal in the second degree or accessory before the fact of the provisions enumerated in clause (i) of this section.

Washington Post Article

Via Clandestine Media.

While I have all the guns I need for just about everything I do I was missing a higher power hunting rifle. I needed something for Elk or Nilgai. I considered the 7 mag, 300 WinMag and 300 WSM. With the heavy bullets the 7mag is a great round and I can still shoot lighter […]

Where will you go when disaster strikes? For many wealthy preppers, the answer lies underground – in a ridiculously swanky bunker. Check out these luxurious doomsday bunkers that are changing the survival shelter game.

Doomsday Bunkers from Around the World

Many survivalists dream of owning the ultimate underground bunker – but for these super wealthy preppers, that dream is now a reality. Complete with swimming pools, movie theaters and more, these luxurious doomsday bunkers are the best of the best. Check out these 5 doomsday bunkers that are the ultimate in survival shelters.

1. The Missile Silo Bunker

Created by Larry Hall in Kansas, the Missile Silo stretches 174 feet underground and has walls that are nine feet thick. This bunker offers a luxurious safe haven for when things get out of hand. It includes a swimming pool, library, and even a movie theater. You can purchase a condo inside the Missile Silo for $2 million.

2. The “Europa One” Bunker

Vivos is currently working on a luxurious fallout bunker in Germany called the Europe One. The bunker will be able to withstand a nuclear blast, chemical agents, earthquakes and any other disasters. The bunker will be 250,000 square feet and will be able to house 6,000 people. The Europe One will come fully equipped with luxurious swimming pools, theaters, gyms and a self-contained water and power generation system.

3. The “Home Within A Home” Bunker

During the Cold War, the original owner of this home decided to build a bunker 26 feet under his home. The owner designed the bunker to be a “home within a home” for a long-term stay. He added an outdoor area and a swimming pool, plus many more unique features. The home is estimated to cost about $1.7 million. Click here to check out the home within a a home bunker.

4. The Seed Vault Bunker

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is located 810 miles away from the North Pole. Various countries contributed towards the building of the bunker back in 2006. The facility stores seeds from a variety of plants in case a major catastrophe occurs. It was reported in 2015 that the bunker held about 420 million seeds.

5. The Atlas Bunker

Atlas, an American company, constructs affordable survival shelters priced between $36,000 to $86,000. For $85,000 you can buy a 10×51 shelter with an air filtration system, blast-proof doors, dinner table, kitchen, shower, entertainment center, bunk beds and under-floor storage.

Check out the video below to learn more about these doomsday bunkers:

For awesome survival gear you can’t make at home, check out the Survival Life Store!

Want to read more about doomsday bunkers? Check out the posts below!

Shelter in Place | How to Stay Safe in a Pandemic

Family-Friendly Storm Shelters

The Weakness Of Underground Bunkers

Sometimes I get asked what major event I think I am the least prepared for and the one that comes to mind is a nuclear incident. It is just one area of preparedness that I have not spent a lot … Continued