Category Archives: Survival

NavELite Magnetic Compass

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www.navelite.com

M i l i t a r y

The NavELite wrist-worn Backlit Magnetic Compass was invented and patented by two Special Operation soldiers.  Operations underscored the need for a reliable backlit compass for use when executing critical missions.  It became apparent in the early stages of the Global War on Terror in Afghanistan when soldiers had to routinely reference cardinal directions for tasks such as Close Air Support (CAS), adjacent unit coordination, and SATCOM antenna orientation that the current equipment available did not meet the needs of the Special Operation soldier.  The NavELite wrist-worn Backlit Magnetic Compass is a mission-enhancing piece of kit for the ground soldier; reducing nighttime operation signatures and adding to force protection.

Military soldiers recognize the need to be outfitted with a magnetic compass.  In tropical vegetation a soldier can quickly lose sight of their element becoming separated and disoriented.  This is dangerous in both a combat and training environment, especially during hours of darkness.  It is essential for every soldier to carry the basic magnetic compass, guaranteeing their ability to maintain a sense of direction and geographic orientation creating a much higher chance for survival in an emergency situation.

Global Positioning System (GPS) compasses are challenged or ineffective in some areas including; forests and jungles with heavy canopy cover, caves or other underground facilities, or in buildings or other structures not located in an area with good digital coverage.  If the digital compass loses power, the soldier is left with no means to navigate or even determine basic cardinal directions.  The second or even third-level fallback technology that NavELite offers is the soldiers’ solution.

An analog (magnetic) compass with luminous technology is the solution in such austere environments where ambient light, particularly at night, is not sufficient to see a compass needle.  Conducting operations at night provides tactical advantages for technically superior military forces; the NavELite wrist-worn compass is now joining the battle!

O u t d o o r   E n t h u s i a s t s

The NavELite compass is beneficial for trail hiking, backpacking, hunting, and outdoor adventurists that understand the importance of survival gear on technical and wooded trails.  The NavELite wrist-worn Backlit Magnetic Compass is an essential piece of navigation gear that will prove useful in any outdoor orienteering activity.  Whether a nighttime adventure or emergency situation, the NavELite compass offers you the peace of mind of having a reliable backlit compass solution for those times When Survival Counts!


Needle

 Metal Magnetic to Northern Hemisphere

Compass Face

 Liquid Filled Mechanical Packaging

Wristband

 Latex Free Flexible; 2-Piece; Meets 95% wrist circumferences

Momentary Switch

 Polypropylene Allows for electroluminescent  back-lit activation

Battery

 3.0 volt coin cell Capacity Range: 140 ma to 220 ma

Buckle

 Metal

Electroluminescence (EL) Panel

 Green Luminescent EL Panel mounted behind compass face

Molded Packaging

 Mechanical molded plastic Ergonomic design; Durability

Weight

 Less than 35 grams Ergonomics

Bezel Diameter

 1.36″ (inches) in diameter

Edible Survival Book

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From Y&R Dubai website (blog):

http://www.yr-dxb.com/yr-blog/

Quite stoked last week when we saw our industry peers tweeting and posting our latest direct mail for Land Rover. Big thanks to everyone for sharing our work to the world.

In Case of Emergency: Eat this Book.

While Land Rover vehicles can take on any obstacles in the desert, it cannot be said the same of their owners. Scorching temperatures, deadly animals and sinkholes are just a few things they might encounter. And when they venture deep into it, even the most experienced drivers can quickly succumb to the harshness of the desert. We wanted to create something that would cut through the clutter and that these people would like to keep. So we created a survival guide, which explained the basics for staying alive in the Arabian Desert, and packaged it in a way that would spur the attention of our target audience.

We researched every indigenous animal and plant, people could encounter in the Arabian Desert and how they could be used to survive. We studied the topography of the region to guide people to safety. We used a reflective packaging similar to army rations, which could be used to signal for help, and bound the book with a metal spiral, which could be used for cooking. Finally, we even took an extra step so that in case of emergency, people could always EAT the book. It was made out of edible ink and paper, and it had a nutritional value close to that of a cheeseburger.

We sent the book to 5,000 existing customers, gave it away as a supplement to the cars’ manual and made it freely available in sports shops.

The initial response was very positive. And the client was so happy with the concept that they asked us to include the book as an insert in the next edition of a car magazine, with a 70,000 circulation.

Suunto Comet Compass/Thermometer

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Looking for a small, reliable compass for your survival kits or EDC…?

Suunto Comet

From the Suunto website:

  • Available for northern hemisphere only
  • Thermometer
  • Jewel bearing
  • Wind chill chart
  • Key ring
  • Size: 26 x 78 mm / 1″ x 3.1″
  • Weight: 10 g

Suunto Micro Compasses

The Suunto Micro Compass series comprises two models, Clipper and Comet, which feature a liquid filled capsule and rotating dial. An invaluable navigational tool in town or country, the compass can be clipped to a watch band or bag strap, or used as a key ring to ensure that the compass is always with you when you need it.

Cost: Around CDN $14

***Unfortunately, this product has been DISCONTINUED***

www.suunto.com

Protection Against Mosquitos

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If you’re stranded in the wilderness without bug spray and under attack from the mosquito squadron, covering exposed skin in wet mud and clay will act as a relatively effective barrier against these bloodsucking devils.

Depending on where you are in the world (even if you’re not in a survival situation), protection from mosquitos can be a very serious issue. Per year, more people die worldwide from malaria than likely all animal attacks combined.

Coghlan’s Magnesium Fire Starter

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Although the ubiquitous Magnesium Fire Starter has its share of drawbacks, for the price and convenience of having both a firesteel and reliable supply of tinder in a single “waterproof” package, you really can’t complain.

The idea that the magnesium doesn’t ignite in its block form, but only when shaved into fine pieces is absolutely brilliant (the magnesium shavings provide a flame source of 2,982°C). Having a readily available source of dry tinder in a survival situation can be a lifesaver. The entire device is unaffected by water and/or moisture, making it even more valuable when you need to start a fire in wet conditions.

The advantage this type of device has over traditional standalone firesteels is that it has a source of tinder attached to it. However, the drawback is that the firesteel rod on these blocks don’t stick out very far – it’s like having only a 1/4 of the rod available to you – the rest of it is buried inside the block itself. The other irritant of this otherwise fantastic device is the necessity of a sharp blade or some type of robust scraper to shave the magnesium block (the block of magnesium is quite hard). Scraping magnesium shavings off the main block can be time consuming and frustrating if you don’t have the right technique.

Cost: Around CDN $7

Arctic Survival Instructor

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Shawn – Senior Arctic Survival Instructor for Maple Leaf Survival

Survival Background & Experience

An Arctic Lifestyles course taught through the university was the catalyst for Shawn to become an aficionado and expert of Arctic Survival training.  Shawn attended the course in the winter of 1998 where he was first introduced and given the opportunity to discover the incredible world of the Inuit. The course introduced him to the world of ice, the midnight sun, and the beautiful culture of these storied people.  Throughout his academic studies he continued to dive further into Canada’s aboriginal cultures with specific interests in hunting techniques, tools, and traditional lifestyles.

Pic

After living in the arctic, immersing himself in the Inuit culture, and absorbing the breathtaking landscape unique to this part of the world, Shawn has gained invaluable first hand personal experience from these masters of survival.  Living alongside the Inuit of Canada’s arctic regions, he learned from a culture that has managed to thrive and flourish in a beautiful yet harsh environment since time immemorial. Hunting, gathering, and living the “Inuit way” was profound and insightful. As such, it is reflected in his approach towards arctic survival.

An expert at building Igloos and Quinzhees, Shawn is also an avid hunter and wilderness enthusiast with extensive knowledge of aboriginal hunting techniques, lifestyles and cultures.

Shawn has since been the Senior Arctic Survival Instructor for courses offered through the departments of Zoology, Environment and Geography, and Native Studies.  These courses have been attended by all levels of post-secondary students and faculty members, emergency rescue personnel, pilots, medical professionals, military personnel and wilderness survival enthusiasts.  The courses have been designed to provide participants with the knowledge of not only how to survive, but thrive in Canada’s coldest environments with an emphasis on aboriginal techniques – specifically those of the Inuit and northern sub-arctic peoples.

To experience the iconic cold of Canada’s north, consider taking part in the winter courses offered by Shawn and Maple Leaf Survival.

Nalgene Bottle Survival Kit

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For those who have an interest in preparedness and survival kits, you have likely seen the infamous Nalgene Bottle Survival Kit – a survival kit where your survival items (knife, fire starting devices, signal mirror, compass, etc…) are contained within the Nalgene Bottle itself.

There are 3 factors which make this system appealing.

  1. You can easily transfer it from one pack to another.
  2. It’s small. It’s common for survival kits to be left behind or neglected because they are too bulky to pack quickly and easily.
  3. The bottle itself is very effective at protecting the survival contents from water and being crushed. The other benefit of housing your survival kit in a Nalgene bottle is that it will float if dropped in water. Tip: Buy a brightly coloured bottle so you can easily spot it if you lose it or if it goes overboard.
While these previous 3 points make for an easy-to-grab, fantastically portable, and robust survival kit, the majority of homemade Nalgene Survival kits lack two essential items.
The first item which is often lacking is that of a bag or pouch. If you are in a survival situation and need to use the Nalgene bottle to store water, what are you going to do with the survival contents inside it? Having a simple bag or pouch as part of the kit will enable you to quickly and effectively stow away your survival items.
Remember – these items are critical to your survival (that’s why you packed them in the first place) so it’s important to ensure you have a means of keeping them together when your bottle is in use.
The second item which is lacking, not only from this system, but from most survival kits (particularly survival kits purchased “off the shelf”) is something to boil water in.
When it comes to the Nalgene survival system, an effective solution to both problems is the Snowpeak Mini Solo Titanium cookset. It allows you to perfectly remedy the issues mentioned above (lack of a contents bag/pouch and a means of boiling water). The beauty of this combination is that it adds virtually no weight to the set up, nor does it add any additional bulk. In terms of dimensions, the whole system remains virtually unchanged – it’s essentially the same size as the Nalgene bottle itself.
The addition of SnowPeak’s titanium Mini Solo Combo makes for a superior survival system.
  • The bottle contains enough space in which to house all your essential survival gear.
  • The bottle provides effective protection for contents against crushing and is water tight – making it float too!
  • A brightly coloured cap makes it visible. In addition, choose a clear bottle so you can quickly see how much water you have left.
  • The size of the Nalgene Survival bottle is small enough to easily take with you without being a burden.
  • Using the bottle in conjunction with the Snowpeak Mini Solo Titanium Cookset gives you a two piece cookset which can be used to cook food, but more importantly, boil water.
  • The mesh bag that comes with the Snowpeak cookset gives you something to carry your survival contents in when your bottle is being used to carry water.

A perfect fit!

Note: The Nalgene Survival bottle system uses the 1 litre “Wide-Mouth” Nalgene bottle.

SnowPeak’s Mini Solo Combo Cookset Ti (Titanium)

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Great piece of kit!

Finding a backcountry cooking system that is user friendly and doesn’t weigh you down is a search the avid outdoor enthusiast should take seriously.

The titanium SnowPeak Mini Solo Combo cook-set is ultra light, compact, and extremely durable – it’s pared down to the absolute basics and it’s all you really need.

Less is more and more is lazy.

– Jason McCarthy, Founder of Goruck 

The set is incredibly lightweight and fits together nicely into a mesh bag which is included. The orange cordage is great for visibility – see “The Colour of Survival.”

Not only is this a fantastic backcountry solo cooking system, it’s also a perfect addition (and arguably essential) to the infamous “Nalgene Survival Bottle.”

From the SnowPeak website:

SKU : SCS-004T

“This cook set comes with a titanium pot, cup, and lid, which stack and store inside the included mesh stuff sack. It features folding handles and graduated markings for easily measuring volume. Sets come in non- stick aluminum or titanium. Perfect for the solo camper or hiker that enjoys both hot drinks and hot food at the same time. As a plus, it is both easy to clean and carry.”

Material Titanium
Dimensions Pot: D 4″ H 5.1″
Cup: D 4.25″, H 2″
Includes Titanium Pot, Lid, & Cup
Capacity Pot: 28 fl oz, Cup: 10 fl oz
Size Stowed D 4.25″ H 5.2″
material Titanium
Made In JAPAN
Weight 5.5 oz
Additional Info  You can store 2 GigaPower Fuel 110g canisters upside down or 1 canister and the GigaPower stove w/o case.

Whether you’re considering this system for your backcountry cooking needs, or looking for a set to properly complete your Nalgene Survival Bottle, this kit from SnowPeak is worth every penny – an investment that will last a lifetime.

Cost: Around CDN $60

www.snowpeak.com