Gear Up: New Survival Gear for March 2023

March 17, 2023

Miller Bros Blades M-4

NOTES
That’s not a knife. This is a knife! Miller Bros Blades is what happens when a group of makers listens to their hearts and acts accordingly. Focusing on overbuilt knives and swords, they create a product with jaw-dropping aesthetics that can be put to the test without worrying about damage. The M-4 is a serious chopper with a back sharpened blade designed to cut no matter which way it’s swung. Composed of Z-Wear PM steel, it has a durability and toughness that exceeds many standard stainless steel grades. The sheath is designed to endure whatever beatings it may be exposed to and is equipped with a leather back carrying system so you can rock the M-4 in the field with style. And at 26 inches in total length, you’ll never have to worry about getting through dense vegetation, processing firewood, or holding off the zombie horde ever again.

BLADE LENGTH
16 inches

MSRP
$2,100-$2,400

URL
millerbrosblades.com

Lester River Bushcraft LRB M1951 – Boreal Field Jacket

COLORS
Foliage/Olive Green, Gray

MSRP
$350

URL
lrbushcraft.com

NOTES
Inspired by the M-1951 field jacket issued by the U.S. Army, the LRB M1951 – Boreal Field Jacket upgrades the design with several unique additions. Designed and handmade by a company located in the north woods of Minnesota, this jacket is crafted to endure some of the most extreme cold conditions. Made of premium wool, secured with high-quality snaps, and featuring numerous 200 denier cordura pockets, the jacket has just as much functionality as it does durability. The outer pockets make for easy access to any necessities, and the inner pockets ensure that sensitive items are kept secure and warm. Primarily constructed of wool, it’s naturally flame retardant, has antimicrobial properties, and can keep the wearer warm even when wet. Built to last, right here in the USA by talented craftsmen and women.

Pnuma Pathfinder Pants

COLOR
Tan

MSRP
$120

URL
pnumaoutdoors.com

NOTES
Outdoor pants have a tendency to stand out as such, typically covered in pockets, and designed for all of those out of the way places. For many outdoor enthusiasts, this means having two completely different wardrobes: one for recreating and one for taking care of business around town. Pnuma’s Pathfinder Pants go in a slightly different direction by designing pants that can stand up to the most demanding mountain hikes, all while offering aesthetics suitable for a day at the office. Four-way stretch nylon is durable, fast wicking, and articulated for maximum range of motion. Deep front and back pockets will hold the everyday essentials and keep all of your handheld valuables safe. These are pants made and designed by folks who understand the rigors of the outdoors and are constantly seeking ways to improve how their customers experience it.

Hults Bruk The Almike

WEIGHT
1.75 pounds

MSRP
$169

URL
hultsbruk1697.se

NOTES
“Bruk” is Swedish for “factory,” and the Hults factory has been forging steel axes for over three centuries. With literally hundreds of years of experience to lean on, the Almike is an all-purpose tool with loads of potential. From processing wood for camping or survival, to landscaping around the house, the nearly 3-inch razor sharp cutting edge will make quick work of whatever task is at hand. The ax head is hand-forged from Swedish ax steel, and tempered to hold its edge even after repeated sharpenings. Head blackened to help further resist corrosion and a hand- polished cutting edge to glide effortlessly through timber, you’ll feel the quality of craftsmanship with every swing. Included with each ax is a leather sheath with a loop to hang on your belt, and the 16-inch American hickory handle is conditioned with linseed oil and professionally engraved with the Hults Bruk logo.

Moultrie Mobile Edge Cellular Trail Camera

RESOLUTION
33 megapixels

MSRP
$100

URL
moultriefeeders.com

NOTES
Most of us cannot sit around all day observing a specific area for critters or trespassers. But constantly checking a trail camera often comes with several complications. Visit an area too often, and you’re likely to scare off your target. Go too infrequently, and you may not get the right photos when you need it. Moultrie solves this dilemma by offering an inexpensive, remote solution. With a basic subscription that would make Secretary Hamilton smile, photos and video can be retrieved on your cell phone no matter where you are in the country. Built-in memory eliminates the need for SD cards, with unlimited cloud storage available with an upgraded subscription. View your photos in 33mp resolution, and watch your videos in 720p clarity, day or night. IR LEDs help capture night images out to 80 feet, and the camera can operate up to 12 months before the batteries need to be swapped out.

Step 22 Tamarin Trunk

CAPACITY
18.5 liters

MSRP
$90

URL
step22gear.com

NOTES
Having a reliable, robust container is something most people overlook as essential until they become needed. Items become a disheveled, unorganized heap in the absence of storage. Step 22 seeks to solve this problem by making some seriously rugged storage options, and the Tamarin Trunk does just that. Constructed of 500 denier C.R.A.W.L. (Coated Rugged All-Weather Layer) makes a rigid, yet flexible bag, capable of housing heavy tools or protecting sensitive electronics. Grab handles on all sides allow for quick retrieval no matter where it’s stored and are reinforced to move heavy loads without breaking. As a bonus, a portion of every dollar spent at Step 22 goes to wildlife conservation. In this case, proceeds go to help the highly endangered Cotton-Top Tamarins of Columbia, which is pretty admirable.

Cold Steel Engage

BLADE LENGTH
3.5 inches

MSRP
$250

URL
coldsteel.com

NOTES
Knives could very well be the most useful tool ever created. Chopping, piercing, and slicing are all functions with innumerable applications. Fixed blades have their place, but in many circumstances it’s impractical, and potentially illegal, to carry an immovable piece of sharpened steel in a belt sheath for all the world to see. This is where folding knives like the 3.5-inch Engage from Cold Steel really shines through. Less than 5 inches long when the blade is in its folded configuration, it fits snuggly in most pockets, out of sight and out of mind from the casual observer. Fully extended, just over 8 inches, the Engage becomes a serious powerhouse for handling all sorts of tasks. Cold Steel’s trademarked Atlas locking system keeps the blade safely fixed until it’s ready to be put away again. Made from S35VN stainless steel for corrosion resistance, toughness, and edge retention.

Minelab Vanquish 540 Pro Pack

WEIGHT
2.8 pounds

MSRP
$499

URL
minelab.com

NOTES
Although it’s a seriously cool endeavor, locating metallic objects isn’t just a goal for treasure hunters. Beneath the ground are countless municipal cables, electric wires, and gas lines that can cause severe havoc if unwittingly disrupted. Storms and floods can rearrange those hazards in an instant. Even more disturbing is the fact that there could be millions of unaccounted munitions buried in countries all around the globe. Which makes the affordable Vanquish line of metal detectors from Minelab a product to pay attention to. The Vanquish 540 Pro Pack, in particular, comes with two, waterproof coil sizes to accommodate various search tasks, a Bluetooth headset and rechargeable batteries. Minelab’s Muli-IQ technology allows the user to scan for multiple metals in a variety of soils simultaneously, and the display makes it easy for the average user to quickly figure out what’s being detected. Robust, waterproof, and lightweight, it’s a potent metal detecting tool.

Thyrm PyroVault 2.0 Lighter Armor

COLORS
Arid, Desert Hunter, Transitional MC, Urban, Woodland, Woodland Hunter

MSRP
$35

URL
thyrm.com

NOTES
Fire is arguably the most essential of survival tools, especially when temperatures plummet. One fire-starting misconception is that carrying a lighter will easily solve that problem. The problem with sparks and butane is that cold temperature severely inhibits its ability to light properly. Zippo lighters circumvent this problem with the use of a wick; however, holding on to the metal case of a Zippo in frigid temps can be a recipe for contact freezing. Thyrm solves this problem with the new and improved version of their Pyro Vault. By taking the Zippo insert and placing it inside Thyrm’s Pyro Vault, you end up with instant fire in a durable and finger-friendly exoskeleton. Its full gasket seal keeps the elements out, the lanyard hole offers better retention in the field, and it comes with a wad of Tinder-Quick that can be used to get a fire roaring in the backcountry.

Garmin Fenix 7 – Sapphire Solar Edition

CASE SIZE
42mm, 47mm, 51mm

MSRP
$900

URL
garmin.com

NOTES
Not your ordinary, run-of-the-mill smart watch. In addition to keeping the time, it’s a personal trainer, a navigational tool, a weather station, and much more. This impressive piece of tech is loaded with features that cover a wide range of sports activities and fitness workouts and uses biometric sensors to assist in optimizing your overall health. When paired with a phone, it subtly notifies you when a message is received and can sync with your calendar to remind you of important events or when a package arrives. Track stocks, get weather alerts, and alert first responders of an emergency, the list of features is quite extensive. What really makes this smart watch unique compared to others is that Garmin has found a clever way to extend its already long battery life by incorporating solar cells into the face of the watch. So while you’re being active or just out and about for the day, the watch is catching some rays and filling its battery backup.

SpyBriefing Premium 64 Meal Kit

SHELF LIFE
25 years

MSRP
$197

URL
premiumsurvivalfood.com

NOTES
There’s a huge selection of dehydrated, or freeze-dried food these days. Some of them hold up better than others. Spy Briefing’s survival food has a lot of product testing and forethought going into each meal kit to maximize freshness and shelf life. Jason Hanson, a prior service CIA officer, wanted to create a product he could trust would keep his family fed and healthy should the need ever arise. Each pouch makes enough for eight servings, and a single meal kit provides 64 servings, including Beef Skillet Dinner, Cajun Rice and Beans, Italian Pasta Marinara, Southwest Chicken and Rice, BBQ Beef Meal, Taco Rice Skillet, Goulash, Caribbean Rice and Beans, and a couple of extras. The kits can be ordered in higher quantities to receive a discounted price, and Hanson even throws in some useful reading to bolster your preparedness knowledge.

Redacted Ammo Can Indicator Slaps

LABELS
.223/5.56, 9mm, 300 Blackout

MSRP
$5

URL
redactedllc.com

NOTES
How do you store your ammo? Are boxes of random calibers stacked in a corner of the bedroom? Or maybe they’re in cases that you have to double check each time you go to the range. An alternative solution to ammo can confusion is to keep them organized with an attractive label. Redacted’s Ammo Can Indicator Slaps will not only keep your brass ducks in an organized row, but they’ll look great to boot. The labels are attractive, can be written on with markers or pen, and are cleanable to accommodate any re-labeling for multiple uses. Order them to suit your needs, in a variety of calibers and quantities.