Survivalist Gear: Open Fire Cooking Kits

If you read our post about cooking, then you know the different types of mess-kits. However, there are several things you can use to cook over an open fire that will bring some comforts of home. If you don't want to cook everything in a pot or pan, and have a little bit of extra room to carry things, you can get a camping grill to grill your food with. Another fun way of cooking, which produces absolutely fantastic results, is using a fire tripod. You can attach pots or grills to these. Attaching a grill will make some of the best open fire cooking you can get. It also keeps your pots out of the fire and allows you to more directly control the amount of heat your food recieves.

Just because you're in a survivalist situation doesn't mean you can't enjoy some good cooking. Of course, having these things is assuming you're prepared. And not everyone may be. I'd like to stress the importance of having a simple, lightweight mess kit that can fit into a pouch on a bag, or something that is generally easy to carry and use. If you already have that, it cant hurt to over prepare and enjoy some comforts you may not have otherwise.

Cooking is an art, and open fire cooking is certainly different than cooking on a stove or in your kitchen. If the power goes out or another situation where preparing food becomes more difficult, its a good idea to know what to do if the situation comes up where you have to cook outside, separate from your typical grill. I'd suggest going out and trying your hand at cooking over an open fire. You'd be surprised at the results and you may learn something new.

In case of zombie apocalypse, a breakout of a devastating virus, or more likely, a political, social, or natural disaster, its good to be prepared and know what you're doing. If you're looking for more survivalist gear like what is listed in this article, try checking out this Survivalist Gear Website. They have lots of military surplus and a good supply of things you may need in an emergency.

How to Prepare for the Worst

DIY Survival Guide

Thinking about becoming a Survivalist? Getting ready for the Zombie Apocalypse? Worried about the political climate? The old saying "Better safe than sorry" rings true. There are some things to think about when you're getting ready for a survivalist situation. Where will you stay? You need food, water, shelter, fire, and gear.

Shelter can be a bunch of sticks leaned up against a tree, a plastic garbage bag, a sleeping bag, a tent, or a car. How ready you are is up to you. If you're looking for food, you should purchase canned goods, MRE's, or other non-perishable food items. Purchase about a months worth of food for each person you'll be with.

Learning to hunt and fish is also a good idea, just in case you start running low on food or if you're in a disaster situation. Try going camping or cooking over the fire, just to get use to it. Purchase a hand-crank flashlight for lighting. Its also a good idea to get emergency blankets. These are easy to store and reflect the heat of your own body to keep you warm.

Keep your friends and family close. Its nice to have some alone time, but there is power in numbers. It would not end well if you were in an unknown situation by yourself. Figure out an emergency plan, who you are going to call, or if phones are down, where you're going to meet up.

There are many things to bring for survivalist gear. Take into consideration what you use on a day-to-day basis. Bring some extra clothes, for hot and cool weather. A knife is an absolute must. You may be required to protect yourself and your family, so a gun or other means of protection may be a viable option.

Blend in to your environment if you're in an urban situation. Try to not dress in your Sunday's best or flaunt what you have, since this will likely make you a target of others. The nail that sticks up the farthest is the first to get hammered down.

Know how you're going to react in the worst case scenario. If there were an economic disaster, or a disaster of any other kind, you're going to want to be ready. Its important to know who, what, where, and when. If you're looking for any of the gear listed here, or any other survivalist gear, check out this Survivalist Gear website: http://www.battleboysurplus.com/

Survivalist Gear 101: Carrying Everything

So now that you've managed to get a few pieces of gear, you're going to have to be able to carry it all. Having a pack for everything, a canteen or a camel back for your water, and a way to keep all your things organized is essential.

A quality ruck-sack is a great thing to have. On top of the space you'll have in order to carry everything, these are typically extremely expandable. Many packs have Molle Loops which let you attach just about anything to your gear. This is great for things like cooking supplies, a self defense weapon, a canteen, extra space, or anything else you need. This is another one time buy. A good pack will last you a long time. Its worth it to splurge a little and pick up a quality pack that will not break or have zipper issues. This will be one of the bigger buys you make but when you're in a survivalist situation, you'll notice the difference.

Canteens

There are several different kinds of Canteens, a Hard Canteen, a Soft Canteen, or even a camel back. Although, they all have one thing in common: they're essential.

A hard canteen is just that, hard. They are durable and less subjective to puncture or damage. On the down side, they are a little more expensive than their soft-plastic counterparts. You get what you pay for though. Many hard canteens come with a metal cup that attach to them. They serve purpose of providing support when you're carrying them, as well as functioning as a small pot to boil and sterilize your water in.

A camel back, which is a part of, or attaches to, your backpack. They are large water holding pouches with a tube that you can drink from. These are used in the U.S. Military and are great to have. However, they are the most expensive option, and may not be as durable as their hard canteen counterpart.

If you're in a survivalist situation, having your gear well organized, compartmentalized, and easily accessible can make or break you. Having a pack to carry your things and a canteen to carry your water are both essential parts of survival. If you're looking for more Survivalist Gear check out this Survivalist Gear website. They've got everything.

Survivalist Gear 101: Cooking

Pots and Pans are a essential part of survival

Now that you've managed to get some food, some water, and start a fire, unless you plan to eat crackers and cheese spread, you're going to need to cook. Camping pots and pans range from aluminum mess kits to high quality Cast Iron pots and pans, with the latter being higher quality.

You can't just throw things over a fire or cook them on a rock, since you'll lose most of the nutritional value of the food and that energy giving deliciousness will just end up dripping into the fire. Not to mention, if you need to boil your water, pots will be required.

Cast Iron
Cast iron pots and pans have the advantage of being durable and very easy to clean. These things will last forever as well. They are typically inexpensive, ranging from $11 up to $40. The down side is that they are heavy, and lugging a few of them around will add up in weight quickly. However, in terms of simplicity and quality, cast iron skillets and pots win hands down for cooking supplies in the wild if weight and storage are not an issue.

Mess Kits
Mess kits are pots and pans that fold up and are easy to store. You'll usually get more than a single pot or pan for the same price. For a mess kit, you're looking at spending $4-$20. Mess kits come in a range of metals, from Aluminum to Stainless Steel. These are lightweight, compact methods. If you're going on a short camping trip, or looking to be prepared, it doesn't hurt to have a quality Mess Kit at hand.

Cooking in the wild is always a enjoyable experience. Nothing compares to kicking back and cooking your food over an open fire. Personally, I enjoy my Cast Iron set and carry a mess kit as a backup or for cups and bowls. If you're looking for the cheaper, lighter, but lower quality pan and don't really care about how your food gets cooked, a simple Mess Kit will work fine. 

If you're looking for more Survivalist Gear including pots and pans and mess kits alike, check out Survivalist Gear - BattleBoySurplus.com

Survivalist Gear 101: Water

Water Hydration System - Survivalist Gear: BattleBoySurplus.com

Getting clean water in the wild can be rather difficult. Beyond having a canteen, you should also bring with you some way of filtering and purifying the water. You can purchase water treatment tablets, which will purify small or large amounts of water, hand pumps that force water through a filter, or boil your water.

Water, fire, and food are essential part of making it out in the wild. While there are more things to bring, for these three types of items, it is best that you spend the money and buy a decent system. There is nothing scarier than being stranded out in the wilderness without access to food fire or water.

Another water purficiation system that is a little more high tech is the SteriPen handheld UV light water system. These work by shining a UV light into the water you're purifying in order to kill what ever might be in your water. These work very well for killing off nasties in the water, but can be a little bit on the expensive side. However, they're well worth the investment.

Its hard to bring bottles and bottles of water on your trip. Three bottles of water weigh about as much as a tent, and take up a good deal of space. Finding water in the wild is easy to do in backpacking country, and if you're going to drink that water, its best that you find a way to make sure that it is clean.

For more survivalist gear and water systems, check out Survivalist Gear: BattleBoySurplus.com

Here's a simple video to show you how to work a few purification systems:

Survivalist Gear 101: Fire

Survivalist Gear - Fire - BattleBoySurplus.com

If you're going camping or you're in a survival situation, starting a fire is one of the most important things you'll run into. If you don't want to be stuck in a pinch, here are a few good ways of getting a fire started.

Fire starting methods range from simple lighters to fire pistons, to bars of magnesium, and choosing the right option may save your life in the wild. Fire is not something to be taken lightly in a survivalist situation. 

Magnesium Fire Starter
Magnesium Fire Starters work by shaving off a small pile of Magnesium and striking the bar on the side to throw sparks into the pile you've shaved off. These produce a white hot flame that you can use in order to get your fire going. Part of the advantage to this method is that it is water proof.

Zippo's 
Zippo lighters are things that everyone knows and is familiar with. Beyond lighting a cigarette in a cool way, these also work well in emergency situations. However, you'll be limited to the amount of fuel the lighter can hold unless you bring some replacements, and the flint may wear out as well. Zippos are not typically water proof. There are a lot of parts that go into Zippo's to make them a convenient way of lighting a cigarette, but don't really help you in a survival situation. It may not be the simplest or the best, but its worth a mention

Flint and Steel
Flint and Steel is a tried and true method of starting a fire. Although you wont get that white hot flame that is produced with the magnesium bar, the flint and steel method, along with the proper tinder, will start a fire is easy. Flint and Steel is a great back-up fire starter, or a way to replace those soggy matches or submerged lighters. If you're buying a Flint and Steel, be sure that the lanyard holding the steel is long enough to actually use. A lot of cheaper brands will give you a very small lanyard to start your fires with.

Fire Pistons
Fire Pistons are fantastic ways of getting a fire going. All you have to do is load a bit of tinder at the bottom of piston and push the plunger down with enough force in order to start a fire. These have been used for years. They're waterproof, which will perform better than matches or a lighter, and with a little practice, they will work every time. Its good to bring some char-cloth, a pre-chard piece of cloth as fuel for a fire piston.

Conclusion
In the end, choosing the right fire starting method is a make or break situation in the wild. Find a reliable method to use. Personally, I've had the best luck with flint and steel and magnesium methods. Always bring some matches and a lighter as backup to make sure that you don't end up stranded without fire. Also, don't purchase cheap Chinese made versions. This isn't something you'd want to go lightly on. Buy quality brands. You'll only need to purchase these once or twice in a lifetime, so make sure you go with the right choice.

If you're looking for more survivalist gear, check out Survivalist Gear - Battle Boy Surplus for more information.

Survivalist Gear 101: Food

 BattleboySurplus - Survivalist Gear

If you're looking to go on a camping trip, a hike, or just trying to be prepared, MRE's (Meals Ready to Eat) are a good place to start. MRE's are the main operational ration for the U.S. Military, and are meant to be completely self contained. These meals typically include an entree, a side dish, crackers, peanut butter or cheese spread, a dessert, instant coffee or tea, matches, toilet paper, a spoon, and a heater to heat the food up. Most MRE's can be eaten cold, however, they typically taste better if they've been heated up.

MRE's come with many entree's and come in Vegetarian choices as well. There are two types of MRE's. There is the U.S. Military MRE, which includes basic meals, food for cold weather, etc, and the civilian alternative. Civilian MRE's include Ameriqual Apack, MREStar, Sopakco Sure-Pak, and Wornick Eversafe to name a few.

Shelf-life for MRE's depend on how you store them. They will keep, at minimum, for 1 month if stored in 120 degree weather. However, if stored at 50 degree weather, they can last up to five years. MRE's have a Time and Temperature Indicator, known as a TTI. TTI's are small circles on the packaging of your meal, that will have an outer circle, and an inner circle. If the inner circle is lighter than the outer, your food will still be good. If you've left your food around for a bit, be sure to glance at the TTI to make sure your food is still good. Typically MRE's last around three years at normal room temperatures.

If you're looking for more Survivalist Gear, be sure to check out Survivalist Gear - BattleBoySurplus.com. They offer a good selection of gear, food, belts, or anything you'll need to weather out the wild, or to survive in any situation.