Whether you’re wearing this knife for discreet self-defense or for opening boxes, either way you’re going to get a quality knife in a tiny package.

The JHO Nug Knife weighs 2.5 ounces (70 grams) and is only 2.2 inches by 1.22 by .47 inches (56 mm x 31 mm x 12 mm), with a blade that is only .7 by .12 inches (18 mm in length, 3 mm thick).

It’s made to fit on a finger, so even with the blade not in use it’s great knuckle protection. We love the Nug’s sleek design, made of a vacuum heat treated S35VN steel  blade and G5 Titanium for the handle. The blade pivots on a free ball bearing system, which means they are easily replaceable if you should need to. This ball bearing system also means that it opens and closes easily, but will not open or close when you don’t expect it too.

We appreciate the Nug’s discreet appearance, which makes it useful as both a utility knife and for easy-to-carry self defense. Check out the JHO blog for photographic evidence of what they have cut with the knife (tennis shoes, canned food). Every purchase comes with a felt pouch and a certificate of authenticity. Also available are leather straps with clips for the Nug, allowing you to hang it from a keychain [$10]. Purchase the JHO Nug Knife for $150 to $180 depending on the desired finish.

Two-tone Nug knife courtesy of jho-knives.com.

Lansky Sharpeners has released a knife sharpener that will replace every other knife sharpener you may already have. The new QuadSharp Knife Sharpener [$19] is a portable blade sharpener that will let you maintain your knives in the field. The sharpener features the same four angles as the legendary Lansky Controlled-Angle System. Angles are set to 17, 20, 25 and 30 degrees.

With a built-in ceramic polishing benchstone, the QuadSharp is a fully functional, stand-alone sharpening solution that is small and highly portable. Sharpen your regular blade, serrated or filet knives in only three to four strokes. The unit is made of metal for long-lasting durability and is 100% compatible with all Lansky Kits and accessories. Purchase the QuadSharp for $19.

Think about it . . .  if you’re in a real survival situation, are you going to be using up your magnesium firestarter and gel kindling right off the bat, or will you save that and get your hands on a Bic lighter or a hundred? It’s going to take a while for the world to run out of matches and lighters, I’m guessing, so you might want to stock up on lighters and save the survival gear for when you really need it.

But, you’re thinking, lighters get wet. They can get lost. They can break. That’s all true, which is why you need to get a lighter that’s better than the others in the pack. Try the Klipp Glo Lighter from Ultimate Survival Technologies. This lighter works when wet. This lighter glows in the dark. This lighter comes with a built-in carabiner. It provides a turbo flame fueled by butane that lights up to 30,000 times. So. There you go. Purchase the Klipp Glo Lighter for $20.

September is Emergency Preparedness Month, where agencies try to get the word out about families and individuals being more prepared to handle social emergencies and natural disasters. We at Shadowfox would like to join in the chorus and encourage you to do something this month to make yourself and your loved ones more prepared.

Just one thing will move you a step closer to self-reliance. That could be as simple as buying a canner and jars, so you’re more able to preserve your own food. Or it could be a major step such as buying a generator. Wherever you are in your prepping, take one step closer and you’ll sleep better.

To help, we’ve compiled a list of our own resources along with websites where you can get more information. What’s the one step you will take this month?

1. Download an App or Sign Up For Texts
The Red Cross has a page of downloadable apps that cover various emergency and survival scenarios, such as first aid or earthquakes. Depending on where you are, you may want to get the tornado app, the hurricane app, or the general emergency app that covers more than 35 different alerts.

2. Make a Kit or Make Your Kit Better
The Red Cross suggests having a kit with a 3-day supply on hand for emergencies. We know, however, that if there is a major earthquake event in the Pacific Northwest, services will be unavailable for possibly months at a time. If you don’t have a kit, start by making a 72-hour kit. If you already have a 3-day kit, add a day to it for each person in your household (and your pets!).

3. Become Trained As a First Responder
Experts have said that if a real SHTF emergency goes down, policemen and ambulance drivers may not be available because they’ll be trying to help their own family. If there’s a severe natural disaster, ambulances and fire trucks may not be able to drive down the street or cross bridges, or if they can, they may have too many emergencies to respond to to help you with your emergency. Moderately sized cities of a couple hundred people may only have a handful of ambulances–definitely not enough to cover a city-wide emergency. Train yourself to help yourself and your neighbors, because you may be the only person who can.

4. Make a Plan
Talk to your family and neighbors to come up with a plan for what you will do if an emergency goes down while you’re at work, at school or out of town. The Red Cross has information on making a plan.

5. Figure Out How You Will Communicate
This Shadowfox article offers five realistic ways that you might have to try to communicate in an emergency. Communicating by walkie talkie might work, but only if you actually have walkie talkies, so go ahead and get them. Maybe now’s the time to get your Ham radio license.

6. Evaluate Your Water Sources
From hidden water sources you never thought of to gathering water from the roof of your house in a pinch, water is one of the necessities you will have to plan for if you can no longer get water from the tap.

7. Prep Your Car
Most of us probably feel that if we’re at home in the event of an emergency we’ll be doing ok . . .  after all, that’s where our food, clothes and tools are. But if we’re at work or at the movies when something goes down we will have only what’s in our car, and we may need to spend a night in our vehicle until it’s safe to move out. Prepare your vehicle for emergencies with basic car repair tools and an emergency kit that is always in your car. Keep a good pair of walking shoes in your vehicle. Sometimes I wear heels to work, but I keep a trusty pair of cowboy boots in my car so I never have to walk in my “fancy” shoes.

8. Consider Survival Essentials
There’s a basic 10 list of items that survivalists recommend people have. This includes basics such as a knife, lighting source, and firestarter. Evaluate what you have against our expert’s list of 10 essentials plus more that you can include to go beyond just the basics.

9. Protect Your Home
If the power goes out, so will your alarm system, your lighting, your stove and your ability to charge your phones. Be prepared by thinking through how you will protect your home in a power outage.

10. Be Aware, Be Vigilant
The most important thing that you can do is be aware and be vigilant. Always take stock of your surroundings and know, for instance, where exits are if you’re in a building, or what roads to avoid if you don’t want to cross over bridges. Be vigilant in making sure that you always have things nearby that can protect you and your loved ones if you need to.

A good knife is an essential part of any outdoors kit. A knife can aid with many tasks like shelter building, food preparation, fire building and self-defense.

But shopping for knives can come down to finding the best quality blade for the lowest price. There are plenty of options in the knife world, and Boker has introduced a fixed blade that delivers a well built knife for less than $40.

The Boker Plus Outdoorsman is designed for, of course, outdoorsmen and hunters. The blade is Sandvik 12C27 steel with a titanium coating for corrosion resistance. A good thing about the coating is that it’s smooth and doesn’t get in the way of batoning and feather stick making. The blade is has a 3.5 inch fine edge and is .17 inches thick, which gives you a durable and light package. The drop point has a false edge that covers about half the blade, which gives the knife great penetration.

But beware, it should not be your first choice if you expect to be prying things apart. The handle is plastic with a rubber molding. With or without gloves, it offers a solid grip on the knife. But I found it to be a little small, so users with smaller paws may get a better fit and feel for the knife. There are four holes in the construction which allow you to lash it to a pole for a spear.

Since it’s a light and short blade, it does not fare well with chopping. It can however baton smaller sticks to make kindling. The knife is great at making tinder piles. The blade holds a good edge and makes very fine cuts on dry wood.

To top it off, the spine of the blade, while not a totally sharp 90 degrees, can make sparks off a Ferrocerium rod.

My main issue with the knife is that it comes with a Cordura sheath that is only for righties (sorry, a southpaw is writing here). Also, it isn’t flush with knife’s construction, which is starting to wear away at the fabric after some insertion and removal.

But all things considered, the Outdoorsman is a solid blade that delivers good quality at a fair price. Purchase the Boker Plus Outdoorsman for $60.

 

When you travel, you might feel limited in what survival gear you depend on, because you can’t always take your important items with you. If you’re flying on an airplane, TSA has strict guidelines regarding the type of products and their sizes that you’re allowed to carry on board and pack.

Review the following checklist for survival items you can take on an airplane. The good thing is that these items don’t take up much space and whether you travel regularly or just once in a great while, you’ll feel better knowing that you can be far from home and still be prepared.

1. Sunblock. Sunblock is an essential everyday item to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays. If something unexpected happens — especially in a sunny or tropical location —  sunblock will be a lifesaver. Take a small bottle with you, no more than 3.4 ounces.

2. Portable water filter and pouch. The pouch is a container that can give you filtered water in case of an emergency. Taking these survival items on a plane is ideal because it consumes minimal space when empty.

3. First aid kit. Take a basic first aid kit with you that includes common medication and wound care items.

4. Hand sanitizer. Small bottles of hand sanitizer will pass TSA screenings. For obvious reasons, this product will make traveling more sanitary by helping you keep the germs in check of the billions of travelers have touched multiple surfaces you’ll encounter. An extra bonus to hand sanitizer is that it’s highly flammable and can assist in starting a fire, a major survival tool in emergency situations. Keep the size limit to 3.4 ounces.

5. Baby wipes. If a situation arises in which you can’t shower or bathe, baby wipes will suffice for hygiene. Take a small package with you on the plane.

6. BIC disposable lighter. This brand is highly advised since it’s more dependable than other “flimsy” lighters, according to The Preppers Dome. Fire is a vital part of survival, so you’ll want something reliable.

7. N95 masks. Respirator masks will help you avoid contracting contagious diseases and shield you better from harmful particles in the air following a disaster. The masks are good at preventing the inhalation of smoke and many other trace particles.

8. Compass. A compass can aid in navigation when you’re in a place you aren’t familiar with. You’ll at least know which direction you’re heading with a compass in hand.

9. Space blanket. These blankets fold into small squares and go far in keeping you warm, and shelter you from the elements. It has a dual purpose in that it can be used to alert search planes with the shiny side that reflects light. Invest in a high-quality blanket because the dollar store brands are prone to tearing the first time you use them.

10. SAS Survival Guide. This is a miniature guide that has 625 pages of clear, precise instructions for a variety of survival situations in a broad spectrum of environments. It’s a great survival item for preppers to take with them on an airplane.

11. Solar lantern. New models like the “Luci” light are plastic and inflatable. They deflate to a very compact size which makes them perfect for tucking into a suitcase.

12. Scissors. Check to see if TSA regulations regarding scissors change with time, but in the past they have allowed scissors with blades up to 4 inches.

Tie your shoes, save your life? Your safety when it comes to the shoes you put on everyday is not something that people typically worry about too much. If the shoes are sturdy and comfortable is usually as far as thoughts go toward survival. But a new product from Imminent Threat Solutions makes getting dressed in the morning a whole lot more interesting.

The ITS Tactical Kevlar Escape Laces are the first 100% kevlar shoelaces ever on the market. Other laces are only reinforced with kevlar fibers. Because they’re made with the same material used in bulletproof vests, they won’t fray, ravel or break and they’re fireproof too, in case you’re a welder or firefighter. Best of all, due to their high heat resistance they can serve as a friction saw to cut through plastic zipties. These laces are also an interesting way to keep an extra length of emergency cord on hand. Coming in 54, 60, and 72 inch measurements, these laces promise to deliver 360 pounds of tensile strength that is virtually unbreakable.

Hey, even if you’re not worried about using them to escape being held hostage, you can use them in your skateboard shoes and never worry about snapping your laces ever again. Pretty affordable too at only $11. Last time we checked, the website said they were out of stock, but will hopefully be available again soon.

We received a package of two travel towels by Snugpak, along with some other cool items that we are currently reviewing. We were excited to get the towels because, even though towels are not the sexiest or most necessary survival or preparedness item, lightweight quick dry travel towels are an essential that you shouldn’t travel without, in my opinion.

They sent us a Snugpak Hands and Face Travel Towel in the 24-by-32-inch size (62 by 80 centimeters) and the Head to Toe Travel Towel in the 47-by-49-inch size (120 by 125 centimeters). We found both sizes to be ample. The Head to Toe towel was more than big enough to cover a larger size body and was soft and comfortable to use. The Hands and Face Towel was actually bigger than my bathmat and I think it would make a fine towel to travel with unless you really wanted the larger size of the Head to Toe Towel.

After showering, I used the larger towel and with just one pass of the towel it soaked up all the moisture on my skin and the towel didn’t feel wet in the slightest. My one complaint, which isn’t really a complaint, is that these microfiber towels don’t feel like using a regular towel. They are much softer and not as nubby as a traditional bath towel, so if you really want that familiarity and comfortable feeling of using your home towels, this is going to be a bit different.

Safety orange is not my color, but luckily both of the towels are also available in Coyote (brown) and Olive (green). The towels are lightweight and each one has a loop buckle on the corner that comes apart to allow you to hang it from a hook, your backpack or any sort of line. They also each come in their own sacks. I appreciated that the sacks had air holes and zippers. The larger towel also had air holes in its bag but it also had a solid bag that could enclose the towel in case you had to pack it away wet.

Even if it does get soaking wet, it won’t stay that way for long. The microfiber technology is able to absorb 7 times more water than its weight and 3 times more water than a cotton travel towel of the same size. Even though it absorbs a lot of water, it can easily be wrung out with a twist and a squeeze to the point that it barely feels wet.

One cool thing about the Snugpak towels is that they are made using Silvadur Technology that binds silver molecules (silver ions) microscopically to the travel towel surface. This makes the material antibacterial and antimicrobial to discourage the growth of bacteria and the presence of any odors, if you are in a situation where the temperatures are hot and you can’t get to a washing facility.  I didn’t use the towels every day for long enough to notice any smell building up but I did use both towels for three days in a row and the towels seemed as fresh as when they were opened from the brand new package.

One other thing to mention is the weight of the towels. Dry, the larger towel and bag weighs only 13 ounces (360 grams) and the smaller towel with bag weighs a mere 4 ounces (120 grams). Next time I travel, one of these lightweight quick dry travel towels is definitely going with me. Get the towels from SnugpakUSa.com for $15 for the hands and face towel and $25 for the head-to-toe towel.

Image courtesy of SnugpakUSA.com

When we travel, we are usually keenly aware of the possibility of getting ripped off. Many of us look like tourists, although we may try hard to fit in, we’re the ones oohing and awing of the architecture and food of a place that the locals get to see everyday. We may choose to stay in hotels with in-room safes to keep our valuables. We may choose cross-body bags or keep our wallets in zipped-up pockets so we can wander around and worry less about pickpockets.

Even if we’re just doing something normal and everyday such as walking across down or on our college campus, we have to be aware of the possibility that we may be victimized. In a crowded city environment, someone could come up and attempt to slash through a backpack on our backs and we wouldn’t even see it coming. That’s where the TrustBag, a secure theft proof bag, comes in.

The TrustBag looks like a regular gym bag, with a strap and a cinch top, but look more closely and you’ll see it is a revolutionary material made from the same material as bulletproof vests that can’t be cut or slashed, so no more worries about someone walking up behind you and emptying your bag’s contents when you can’t see them coming. The bag is theft resistant, because the top cinches with its own combination lock, which also allows you to lock it to something, such as a table when you’re sitting at Oktoberfest in Munchen. The bag’s super soft material could be stuffed full of shirts and used as a pillow.

Inside the TrustBag is a water-resistant lining, so no more worries about rain pouring down from the London sky, or your bag falling into a puddle with your iPhone inside. Even the zipper is 100% waterproof. There’s more than water to worry about though, isn’t there? In today’s world, digital data also needs protection. Digital data from credit cards and other items people commonly carry in their wallets can be easily scanned with RFID. The TrustBag comes with an inner bag made out of RFID-blocking material, so your data is safe.

The combination lock is available in two options. The Abus combination lock is aluminium with an anodized coating. The lock comes in different colors and opens with a three-digit code which can be set to something you create. The Master Lock option is made out of hardened steel and opens easily.

To make this all even better, the TrustBag is 100% vegan and latex-free.

My only complaint is that the bag seems on the small side. At only 15.75 inches (40 centimeters) it’s a bit small for someone like myself who likes to take everything along with me. But when thinking about the function of the bag, the small size makes sense because you don’t necessarily need to lock up your valuables along with bags of granola snacks or your hair ties and mascara. This bag is intended for the things you really want to keep safe, such as your electronic gadgets, passports and other identification, money, hotel keys, and the like. Still, I’d like to see it a tad bigger or maybe with the option of a larger size.

The TrustBag is available for purchase from TrustBag’s site for $189.

Have you ever wanted a water bottle that could hold both hot and cold liquids at the same time and could get smaller once you drank some of what was in it? Or could turn into two water bottle if you happen to find yourself sharing with someone who’s a little bit grubby? Well inventors have been monitoring your brain waves and created what you have always wanted.

OK, they really haven’t been monitoring your brain waves, but what they came up with is pretty amazing. The Golchi water bottle started out as a Kickstarter project that now has more than reached its funding goal. The Golchi holds two beverages of different temperatures at once, goes from big to small or one to two bottles in an instant, and has 15 features to customize it and make it the most versatile water bottle we’ve ever even imagined.

Golchi is vacuum insulated stainless steel, like all good bottles are, but has two separate compartments that allow you to store two different beverages, for those cross-country ski trips where you want both hot coffee and cold water. Or you want a smoothie and tea for your workout days. The site even suggests carrying water for mom and hot water and baby formula for the infant in one convenient item. You can switch it up to four different configurations fro, Double Decker, holding dual compartments for two different beverages, Jumbo, which turns it into a single container plus a dry storage, Traditional, which is just your everyday bottle, or Golchi Mini, which splits your Golchi into two standalone bottles.

Imagine…hot water and oatmeal, hot water and granola, coffee and cream, tomato soup and crackers, cold water and coffee, smoothie and coffee….it’s mind-boggling what this thing can do. And it comes in six colors.

Golchi image from Golchi’s Kickstarter page at Kickstarter.com