With all the love for Spyderco's Paramilitary series, it's no surprise that people started calling for something smaller, more pocketable. To remedy this, Spyderco released the Para 3 over a decade later, scaling down the proven features of the Paramilitary to create a compact copy of it's proven design. But for diehard fans of their FRN line looking to shed some weight, Spyderco had one more trick up their sleeves - the US-made Spyderco Para 3 Lightweight.
Read MoreNo matter your level of preparedness, there are always going to be gaps in the plan. For some, this is a matter of cost or caution. For others, it's space. While these shortcomings can leave you feeling uneasy, keeping a close inventory of the cracks can provide a unique edge during a natural disaster or civil unrest. While others are still trying to make sense of what's coming, skip the math and get ahead of things with a punch list.
Read MoreFlashlights are a true wonder. No matter your station in life, there's a time and place for everyone to say their thanks. They brighten dark corners, make sense of wires and pipes, and for the modern warfighter, they are completely indispensable. While many of us carry our flashlights daily, they are often tucked away in wait of a hearty job. But with the advent of ultrabright LED technology, perhaps it's time to consider the flashlight as a firstline companion to self-defense in an urban environment.
Read MoreWe've all encountered a locked barrier at some point in our lives. Locked keys in the car? Call roadside assistance. Late night as a teen? There's a basement window for that. At the end of the day, these are all easy fixes with ample opportunity. But in an urban survival scenario where self-rescue is required - and a locked door may hold you or your loved ones firmly in harm's way - a heavy-handed solution may be the only way to safety. If a lockpick or hard kick won't clear a path, perhaps it's time to knock a little louder. Enter the shotgun.
Read MoreWhen met with a high-stress situation, we tend to get a little reptilian in thinking. Stress inoculation and training can take the edge off the action, but trying to recall a world of information is a whole other animal. Detailed plans, instructions, and lists can account for thousands of datapoints - information that is easily be forgotten and lost in the grey. When the details of urban survival are absolute, an educated guess can become a gamble. For pilots and other high performers, there's an easy way to hedge those bets. Make sure it's written down.
Read MoreDuring a period of civil unrest, you're either a number or a target. No matter how well equipped you or your small group may be for conflict, full battle rattle is going to draw a world of unwanted attention from the hoods and have-nots. That overt plate carrier and camo you're wearing? The city will eventually swallow you whole, thinking you're another cop, criminal, or loot drop. But at what point does our affinity for load bearing equipment or camo become a liability in urban preparedness? With big city problems, I figure it's sooner rather than later.
Read MoreNo matter the medium, the pundits will all tell you the same thing about urban survival - you get out or get dead. While I think there's some truth in the statement, the rebar retreat has never been given a fair shake against its rural kin. The city is quick to erupt, so safety is a handsome target. But when we start to peel back the layers of security, it's easy to see that the common condo deserves far more credit than it gets.
Read MoreThere's nothing quite like an afternoon hike - sunshine, fresh air, and the promise of warm shower. While proper footwear can make or break a stroll, wear and tear can become a real bear as the hours stretch to days. For those thinking about bugging out or fighting on, perhaps it's time to consider this small detail of your footcare plan.
Read MoreWhile first aid holds an important place in urban survival, many of us continue to focus on the long game. We look solely to the horizon, building out full-scale solutions to face troubled times ahead. But with a world of misadventure just beyond our doors, it's important not to lose sight of the daily unknowns. Whether we like it or not, disaster usually crops up when we're least prepared.
Read MoreWhen the aim of the game is visual observation, a little added detail can go a long way. But unless you're a hunter - two legs or four - standalone optics may not yet have a home. As much as we'd all like to claim perfect vision, the truth is that we could all use a touch of help. So, perhaps it's time to give yourself the added edge and start seeing things a little more clearly.
Read MoreWhile there are countless systems providing full spectrum filtration at home, they leave much to be desired for the road. Whether a trip out of town or a prolonged outage at the municipal treatment plant, we're often pulled to a solution that covers the spread. As a pillar of preparedness, I would imagine you have something tucked away - but is it as simple as throwing a filter in your kit for urban survival?
Read MoreWhile the romance with pump guns has long since moved on, the power and versatility of the shotgun still holds a place in my heart and my hands.
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