Articles
Gear tested in real use and practical guides: water, power, heating, food, light and the outdoors.
15 articles
This light can light your way, but its real job is getting you found
Acebeam UC3A: why a flashing signal panel beats 900 lumens when you need to be found.
Russian military ration test: was this the best of the three?
Russian 24-hour ration: contents, taste, heaters, and what an expired pack teaches you.
I ate a Ukrainian 24-hour ration: what's inside and what a prepper can learn
Ukrainian 24-hour ration: contents, taste, and why soldiers at the front often eat cold.
I heated my car overnight with a diesel heater: how I did it, what to watch
A night in the car with a diesel heater: setup, measurements and the CO safety rules.
72 hours without power at 40°C: are you really ready for this summer?
Heatwave blackout: water, cooling, food and power for 72 hours, plus a 20-minute test.
As the days get shorter, being seen can save your life
Dark evenings on foot: reflective vest as the minimum, your own light as the real safety.
Why a sudden reaction is better than lasting fear
Lasting fear freezes you, a sudden scare gets you moving. Preparedness takes the edge off both.
The Five Wise Virgins: the power of light, love and preparedness
The parable of the wise virgins: the extra oil is God's strength that keeps love burning.
Torches under the magnifying glass: an ever-growing table of my tests!
Every torch I've tested in one table, plus lens and reflector types explained.
Building an ark or a coffin? What Noah teaches us about preparedness
Noah, the first prepper: supplies, faith, and the 20-minute test of who your ark is really for.
MRE food test: what's inside, what it tastes like, and how long it keeps
MRE Menu 22 field test: contents, flameless heater, taste, shelf life and who should buy it.
Sofirn HS21 headlamp test: rotary mode ring, gesture control, 230 metres
Sofirn HS21: three light sources, a glove-friendly ring switch and why red light matters.
How to make a simple compass with a stick and two stones
Find north with a stick, two stones and the sun: the shadow-stick method, step by step.
ALLPOWERS S300 PLUS test: compact power wherever you go
ALLPOWERS S300 PLUS: 300 W, 288 Wh and solar charging in a compact power station.
What is colour temperature, and why does it matter when choosing a torch?
Kelvin explained: which torch colour temperature suits which job, and why it matters.
Preparedness in your pocket
Stock with expiry tracking, emergency card, compass, map and knowledge base in one app. The essentials work without internet.
See what it can do