We’ve got another new contributor to the site, and he’s part Boy Scout, part MacGyver, part Chicken Little. David loves the outdoors, but he’s probably slightly paranoid too. So he looks at outdoors equipment a bit differently than we might, always thinking about which pieces of gear would come in handy during an emergency. While I doubt we’ll have to worry about a zombie apocalypse any time soon, the planet has witnessed enough natural disasters of late that it might not be such a bad idea to make sure you’ve got a 72 hour kit, and combine that with some of your camping gear. Of course, I may be wrong. In which case, some other advice: Cardio. Double tap.
– Brian
Everyone has a hobby or two. But collecting sports cards, building model cars, and playing video games are very unlikely to make a lasting impact on your life. The hobbies that we have are a bit different. We have learned and honed our skills, purchased vital equipment, and prepared our bodies to do things that could keep us alive in an emergency, whether natural or man-made. With the investment that we make into our various outdoor activities, each of us is building our survival arsenal, whether we are aware of it or not.
With the current political (and natural) unrest, it‘s time to start thinking about outdoor gear a little bit differently. Of course, the tools and equipment we buy are still practical, fun, and enable us to enjoy the wild. But they can also mean the difference between survival and extinction. By keeping these extra uses for your equipment in the back of your mind, you will be able to better prepare for an emergency.
Keep an eye out for some of the emergency uses I find in my upcoming reviews, and look for the same applications with the equipment you already own. Feel free to leave comments (or email me: contact @ industryoutsider.com) with your ideas, questions, or concerns about emergency preparedness.
– David