by iZjn01kH85 | Jul 4, 2020 | communications, Navigation, Off the Grid, Preparation, radio, Safety, SHTF, Survival, Survival Scenarios, Technology, Tools
What’s the key factor that has made humans the dominant species on Earth? Many would say it all comes down to our ability to use tools, dating back to the first time our cave-dwelling ancestors crafted a blade or smacked two rocks together to spark a fire. But...
by iZjn01kH85 | Jun 27, 2020 | Hiking, Medical, mountain lion attack, Off the Grid, Safety, SHTF, Survival, Survival Scenarios, What If?, wild animal attack
Illustrations by Robert Bruner It’s a beautiful summer day, so you decide to go for a family hike/picnic in the nearby Cleveland National Forest with your spouse and two children (ages 10 and 7). You’ve hiked this area before and are relatively familiar...
by iZjn01kH85 | Jun 27, 2020 | Bug-Out, Off the Grid, SHTF, Survival, tire repair, Tools, Transportation
Several years ago, my fellow rescue technicians and I conducted a search-and-rescue operation. We were in the middle of transporting our subject out of the woods when we realized that our transport UTV was getting a flat tire and needed some tire repair. The escort...
by iZjn01kH85 | Jun 24, 2020 | airgun, Guns, Hunting, Off the Grid, pellet gun, SHTF, Survival
If you’re considering including an airgun in your SHTF kit, or are just looking for a reasonably priced, self-contained airgun to handle pests and vermin around the farm or homestead, perhaps this review will make your search a bit easier. Break-barrel airguns,...
by iZjn01kH85 | Jun 18, 2020 | Bug-Out, Food, Gardening, Off the Grid, SHTF, Survival
WARNING: This article is meant to be an overview and not a detailed guide on identifying and consuming edible mushrooms. Seek guidance from a trained mycologist before attempting to eat any mushrooms. Any attempt to consume mushrooms shall solely be at the...
by iZjn01kH85 | Jun 17, 2020 | Bug-Out, communications, Gear, Off the Grid, SHTF, Survival, Technology, Tools
Photos by Broadview Motion Whether knowingly or unknowingly, if you’ve used ballistic or bump helmets before, you’ve probably used a Team Wendy product. While the company is best known for helmets, they also make some other products, such as the Team Wendy...
by iZjn01kH85 | Jun 17, 2020 | Backpack, Bug-Out, EDC, Gear, Off the Grid, SHTF, Survival
By now, most people in self-defense or preparedness-oriented communities know what the term “gray man” signifies. It’s the idea that you can walk around with all of your emergency tools at the ready without looking “tactical.” This is...
by iZjn01kH85 | Jun 17, 2020 | Book, Combatives, cqb, Off the Grid, Preparation, SHTF, special tactics, Survival
The Premise: Special Tactics is a team of active-duty and former Special Operators who have released a series of books on room clearing, small-unit tactics, and related topics. This particular volume is a step-by-step guide of two-person room clearing and CQB tactics....
by iZjn01kH85 | May 31, 2020 | DIY, Guns, Off the Grid, Preparation, Survival, weapon
“The final weapon is the brain, all else is supplementary.” – John Steinbeck What’s the number-one problem within the preparedness community? This is a challenging question because it’s often uncomfortable to analyze our own faults....
by iZjn01kH85 | May 26, 2020 | Bug-Out, DIY, Gear, Guns, Hiking, Off the Grid, SHTF, Survival, Tools, weapon
A few months ago, we discussed the benefits and drawbacks of various types of load-bearing equipment in our article, Front Toward Enemy: Survival Plate Carriers & Chest Rigs. However, that article was primarily intended to provide an overview of armor plate...
by iZjn01kH85 | May 24, 2020 | Bug-Out, DIY, Navigation, Off the Grid, Safety, SHTF, Transportation, Vehicle
We’ve all been there — alone and unafraid, enjoying a weekend adventure or vacation in the backwoods and basking in the freedom American off-roading provides. Then BAM! You find yourself in a predicament. You misjudged the angle of the slope and...
by iZjn01kH85 | May 12, 2020 | Bug-Out, DIY, Fitness, Gear, Off the Grid, SHTF, Survival
There are many reasons to consider an at-home survival workout plan. The most timely of these is the COVID-19 pandemic, and the associated lockdown that has left many of us cooped up in our houses. Although some states are beginning to reopen businesses, it may be a...
by iZjn01kH85 | May 10, 2020 | Bug-Out, Gear, Hiking, Hunting, Off the Grid, Safety, SHTF, Survival, Tools
Self-reliance is a term that gets thrown around a lot in the emergency preparedness community, but it’s also a term that seems to be frequently misconstrued. A self-reliant individual takes every feasible step to avoid unnecessary dependence on outside...
by iZjn01kH85 | May 8, 2020 | Bug-Out, Off the Grid, Shelter, SHTF, Transportation, Vehicle
What would your ultimate overland Jeep build look like? Each of our answers will be a little different, but they’ll probably share some common ground — mud tires and increased ground clearance for overcoming obstacles, a winch and other recovery tools for...
by iZjn01kH85 | May 3, 2020 | Bug-Out, Buyer's Guide, Gear, Hiking, Off the Grid, Shelter, SHTF, Survival, Tools
We’re always on the lookout for new survival gear, and we publish an overview of our findings in each issue of RECOIL OFFGRID. In Issue 37, we took a quick glance at new survival gear from 12 companies, ranging from knives and tools to hunting weapons, shelter,...
by iZjn01kH85 | May 2, 2020 | Bug-Out, Hiking, Hunting, Medical, Off the Grid, Safety, Shelter, Survival
The hero in our apocalyptic thriller has survived the outbreak and taken up residence in an abandoned hunting shack. Soon, that antique radio will be dusted off, and efforts will be made to reach out to other survivors — if there are any. In the meantime,...
by iZjn01kH85 | Apr 29, 2020 | Bug-Out, Gear, Off the Grid, Shelter, Survival, Weather
By the time you read this, spring will be upon us in full force. In most places, the snow will be gone, the grass will be green, and many of us will be anxiously planning our first camping trips of the season. Over the last year or so, we’ve had the chance to...
by iZjn01kH85 | Apr 23, 2020 | Bug-Out, DIY, Guns, Hunting, Off the Grid, SHTF, Survival
In the past few years, a “do-it-yourself shotgun” kit has become popular, billed as a survival gun. It’s made by Runway Sub-Cal, a manufacturer known for producing rifled flare gun inserts to allow shooters to fire pistol rounds through 26.5mm flare...
by iZjn01kH85 | Apr 22, 2020 | DIY, Off the Grid, SHTF, Survival, Technology, Tools
When it comes to protecting against COVID-19, the gold standard of respiratory protection is a mask that’s rated at N95 or better. However, N95 masks are also in high demand and short supply right now, even among medical and law enforcement personnel working on...
by iZjn01kH85 | Apr 18, 2020 | Buyer's Guide, Gear, Guns, Off the Grid, Safety, SHTF, Survival, Tools, weapon
Plate carriers and chest rigs are a topic that’s frequently discussed on the internet, and it’s not hard to see why. Everyone has their own gear preferences and needs, whether it’s for sustained combat in a warzone or occasional trips to the shooting...
by iZjn01kH85 | Apr 18, 2020 | Bug-Out, DIY, Off the Grid, Preparation, Safety, SHTF, Survival
Photos by Niccole Elizabeth In the post-Sept. 11 era of the U.S. PATRIOT Act, the level of scrutiny given to electronic communication, by both government and criminals alike, is so intense as to be the butt of cocktail party jokes. The slew of memes, comedy sketches,...
by iZjn01kH85 | Apr 16, 2020 | DIY, Medical, Off the Grid, Safety, SHTF, Survival
The Internet is an excellent source of vital information, but it’s also a breeding ground for dangerous misinformation — especially in times of crisis like this COVID-19 pandemic. Most of us know that so-called “social distancing” is the best...
by iZjn01kH85 | Apr 13, 2020 | Backpack, Bug-Out, EDC, Gear, Off the Grid, SHTF, Survival
Working in an austere environment brings with it a unique set of challenges when it comes to packing and maintaining a sustainment backpack that allows one to be independent and successful. The bag I’ll be describing is a culmination of three separate trips to...
by iZjn01kH85 | Apr 8, 2020 | Book, Combatives, Military, Off the Grid, Preparation, SHTF, Survival
The Premise: Lt. Col. David Grossman followed up his best-selling book, On Killing, with On Combat: The Psychology and Physiology of Deadly Conflict in War and in Peace. We consider this to be the second part of Grossman’s Killology Opus, and this one is...
by iZjn01kH85 | Apr 7, 2020 | Blades, EDC, Gear, Knives, Off the Grid, SHTF, Survival, Tools, weapon
Nonmetallic knives aren’t a new phenomenon. Man’s earliest weapons consisted of pointed staves and sharpened stone, which were quite effective for hunting, skinning, carving, and fighting. Today, nonmetallic weapons have benefitted greatly from durable and...
by iZjn01kH85 | Apr 3, 2020 | EDC, Off the Grid, Safety, SHTF, Survival, Tools, weapon
Abduction scenarios can originate in a myriad of ways. It’s not always about guys in ski masks jumping out of a panel van and putting you in zip-ties. Many of the students who’ve been through the training that I’ve provided over the years dealing...
by iZjn01kH85 | Mar 31, 2020 | Bug-Out, Off the Grid, SHTF, Survival, Tools, Transportation, Vehicle
If you own a truck, SUV, or Jeep, there’s a pretty good chance you’ve also installed larger-diameter tires and a leveling kit or lift kit. These modifications increase ground clearance and improve off-road capabilities, but they also present some issues...
by iZjn01kH85 | Mar 30, 2020 | EDC, Gear, Lights, Navigation, News, Off the Grid, SHTF, Survival, Tools
At SHOT Show 2020, we got our hands on the latest every-day carry flashlight from Streamlight: the MacroStream USB. This light is the big brother to the popular MicroStream USB, and offers a bigger aluminum body, higher-capacity battery, and increased lumen output....
by iZjn01kH85 | Mar 28, 2020 | Blades, Food, Gear, Hunting, Knives, Off the Grid, SHTF, Survival, Tools
Humans have field dressed four-legged sustenance since that first caveman chiseled a pointy tip on a downed tree branch. Did he, or the millions of hunters who came after, have a gut hook knife? Nope. Not for many millennia, until it showed up in the mid 20th century....
by iZjn01kH85 | Mar 27, 2020 | Medical, News, Off the Grid, SHTF, Survival
COVID-19, commonly known as Coronavirus, is the topic on everyone’s mind right now for obvious reasons. With most of the U.S. in damage-control mode, many individual states and cities on lockdown, and the entire world reacting to the spread of this ongoing...
by iZjn01kH85 | Mar 26, 2020 | Bug-Out, DIY, EDC, Off the Grid, Preparation, Shelter, SHTF, Survival, Tools
A basic understanding of lockpicking is one of the most valuable urban survival skills one can have in their arsenal. For many, the idea of lockpicking may be relegated to the realm of criminals and hackers, but there are many legitimate legal uses for these skills. A...
by iZjn01kH85 | Mar 24, 2020 | Bug-Out, EDC, Gear, Lights, Navigation, Off the Grid, Safety, SHTF, Survival
Responsible preparation for urban emergencies or disasters in a major city requires thoughtful consideration of the illumination tools you will use. From an every-day carry (EDC) perspective, your ability to draw attention to your location can have critical...
by iZjn01kH85 | Mar 21, 2020 | Hiking, Hunting, Off the Grid, SHTF, Survival, Weather
You’ve probably seen a survival-themed movie or TV show where the protagonist dramatically fights a grizzly bear or pack of wolves while lightning streaks across the sky and tense music swells. Although that might make for an entertaining scene, it’s...
by iZjn01kH85 | Mar 19, 2020 | Bug-Out, EDC, Guns, Hunting, Off the Grid, Preparation, SHTF, Survival, weapon
Editor’s Note: The following article was originally published by our sister publication RECOIL, and appears here in its entirety with permission. For more articles on guns, training, and gear, go to RECOILweb.com. As if shortages of toilet paper,...
by iZjn01kH85 | Mar 18, 2020 | Apparel, Bug-Out, Combatives, Gear, Guns, Military, Off the Grid, SHTF, Survival, Tools, weapon
Backpacks are a topic of endless debate and speculation within the survivalist community. What’s in your bug-out bag? Do you have a go-bag in your car? What about a get-home bag at the office? Is your every-day carry bag stocked with survival gear? These are all...
by iZjn01kH85 | Mar 16, 2020 | DIY, Medical, Off the Grid, Safety, SHTF, Survival, Water
The following article was published in Issue 36 of our magazine. This issue is available now in print or digital format. We live in a world where established safety measures, if followed, prevent a lot of injuries. Unfortunately, they’ll never prevent all...
by iZjn01kH85 | Mar 16, 2020 | Bug-Out, Gear, Guns, Hiking, Hunting, Off the Grid, SHTF, Survival, weapon
The following article appears in Issue 48 of our sister publication, RECOIL magazine. You can find it on shelves starting March 20th, 2020. There seems to be a nebulous atmosphere of gloom and doom circulating in America today. Politicians and TV pundits claim our...
by iZjn01kH85 | Mar 16, 2020 | Military, Off the Grid, Safety, Survival
Studies have indicated that around 17 to 22 veterans die by suicide on a daily basis. According to a recent piece in Military Times, “Veterans are 1.5 times more likely to die by suicide than Americans who never served in the military. For female veterans, the...
by iZjn01kH85 | Feb 27, 2020 | Bug-Out, Off the Grid, Safety, SHTF, Survival, What If?
Illustrations by Cassandra Dale So much had changed in just one minute. The look on my wife’s face had turned from beautiful and bored to truly terrified and alert. A man lay dead on the floor, and the murmur of many people chatting had been replaced by the tumult of...
by iZjn01kH85 | Feb 27, 2020 | Backpack, Bug-Out, Fire, Gear, Hiking, Off the Grid, Safety, SHTF, Survival
I live in a mountain oasis — my little taste of heaven. My closest neighbors are three miles away. My little off-grid retreat is surrounded by pine, mahogany, and juniper. I’m relatively self-sufficient here — comfortable enough to survive the zombie apocalypse....
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