Emberlit Stove Review

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In any survival situation, the ability to prepare food and boil water are crucial. You need to make sure your bug out plan accounts for this. There are a variety of stove types you can add to your bugout bag and picking one that meets your needs while making the right compromises is an important decision. Many space-conscious preppers look for an ultralight stove to solve this problem. We came across a great example of a well made, compact backpacking stove in the Emberlit Stainless Steel Collapsible Stove. Mikhail at Emberlit was kind enough to send one over for us to put through the paces. The Emberlit backpacking stove weighs 11.3 oz (316 g) and folds flat to fit in a pack or even a pocket. It utilizes a rocket stove style design which allows it to burn nearly anything and conduct heat in a highly efficient manner. Finding a rocket stove that could pack down to nearly nothing seemed too good to be true. As we conducted our Emberlit Stove Review we were impressed with the functionality and versatility of their design.

Emberlit Stove Video Review

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Emberlit Stove Review

The test I devised for our Emberlit stove review was pretty simple: make a cup of instant coffee-a trail favorite of mine. The Emberlit comes in a nice, reusable package with assembly instructions printed clearly on the front. I removed the Emberlit folding stove from its envelope, hastily ignoring the simple instructions and just assembling on the fly. The only real thing to note in assembly (pointed out in the instructions) is that the front (the side with the fuel feeder opening) goes on last. Beyond that, there’s basically only one way to put it together. This simplicity of design means you could put the stove together in a hurry, in a low light situation, or if your hands are numb from the cold or unsteady.

Once I had the Emberlit assembled, I set about collecting fuel. As with any camp fire, you want to make sure you have all the fuel you’ll need set aside before you light your fire. There are few things more demoralizing that getting some kindling lit and realizing you don’t have enough to keep it going. This is of particular importance in a crisis or bug out scenario.

Emberlit Folding Stove Review — The stove disassembled and laid flat after use

With my fuel gathered and set aside, I set about building my fire. I removed the grill section and added a couple of pieces of balled up paper, some of the smaller dry twigs on top to start. I lit the tinder and commenced adding more small kindling. The rocket stove based design of the Emberlit makes getting your little fire going as easy as you could hope for. The walls protect the small fire and hold in heat, while the bottom vents draw in air creating a chimney effect. Once I’d gotten a good bed of coals, I replaced the grill and started feeding larger pieces of fuel through the Emberlit’s front opening. I set my canteen cup full of water on the grill and continued tending the fire. Since this is such a small fire, you do have to keep an eye on it and feed it as it consumes fuel. The grill section is flat and stable enough to accommodate a large pot or pan, should you need it.

After a few short minutes my cup had reached a rolling boil, and was ready for coffee. I extinguished the fire, allowed the Emberlit to cool and quickly wiped it down and packed it. The whole process was quick, easy and left hardly a trace of my passing.

Emberlit Stove Review Pros:

Incredibly packable. You could fit this stove in your pants pocket.
Versatile fuel source. Use whatever is at hand: wood, moss, cardboard, paper, charcoal, dung, or any other biomass.
Easy to use. Simple, quick, and obvious assembly.
Rocket Stove design makes getting a good fire going easy.
Stability. The Emberlit is well built and stable enough to use in many cooking applications.
Solid build quality
No need to worry about carrying around bulky, unstable fuel canisters
The floor of the stove keeps your fire off the ground which is great in wet or snowy survival scenarios.

Emberlit Stove Review Cons:

Takes a little more time and care than a liquid or solid fuel stove to boil water.
Need to wait for it to cool before packing it up

Emberlit Stove Review Conclusion:

Overall I would rate the Emberlit Stainless Steel Collapsible Stove very highly and recommend it as an addition to any camping kit or bugout bag. Over the course of our Emberlit stove review it became obvious that its simplicity, durability and versatility make it an item you’ll use again and again. It is worth noting that Emberlit’s stoves also come in a titanium version for those wanting a corrosion resistant collapsible stove. Our testing showed that the Emberlit folding stove has a fairly easy learning curve to climb but as with any piece of survival kit, make sure you take it out and practice using it. Mastering basic survival skills and tools BEFORE you need to use them is what preparedness is all about.

Your Thoughts?

What do you think of the Emberlit folding stove? Is there anything else you would want to see as a part of our Emberlit stove review? Please let us know in the Comments Section below, thanks!

About the Author

Oakley is an outdoor enthusiast and life skills student located in Northern New Jersey.

How To Choose The Best Survival Tomahawk For Your Bug Out Bag

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If you are building a bug out bag or even a general camping and bushcraft kit, it is worth considering adding a survival tomahawk to your gear.

The tomahawk has a storied history as a reliable tool and the modern day survival tomahawk has evolved rapidly to meet today’s needs.

In this guide, we will discuss this history as well as teach you how to pick the best tomahawk for your needs.

What Can I Use My Survival Tomahawk For?

Given the vast utility of a survival tomahawk, it is a tool that any serious prepper should be looking at. A survival tomahawk is one of the best multipurpose items you can have with you and can effectively carry out a great many tasks including:

Chopping wood
Kinetic building entry
Glass breaking
Vehicle rescue
Prying
Hunting/Butchering
Self-defense
Piercing/cutting sheet metal
Opening of metal, wood, and plastic containers

Few survival tools can offer as many practical uses in such a compact, simple package. One can see why a survival tomahawk is a favorite tool for hunters, police, firefighters, park rangers, farmers, and servicemen.

Best Survival Tomahawk: CRKT Kangee

The CRKT Kangee gets our pick for best survival tomahawk because has a combination of the best characteristics.

It is a compact tool that does not sacrifice cutting power due to its forward weighting and multiple grip options. The fact that it weighs 1.5 lbs means that it will not cause undue fatigue if carried in a bug out bag and can still be swung with ease after a day’s travelling.

The G-10 handle scales come off for cleaning and will last several lifetimes.

The cutting edge design of the CRKT Kangee screams practicality. The sharpened spine is perfect for pushing cuts and the sharp beard makes it ideal for hooking anything just out of reach or for use as a climbing aid.

The tapered spike on the rear side of the Kangee is perfect for piercing tough materials and makes it an even more formidable self defense tool.

Overall the CRKT Kangee is a durable, well-made modern tomahawk that would be a welcome addition to any survival kit or bug out bag.

Best Tactical Tomahawk: Smith and Wesson Extraction and Evasion Tomahawk

The tactical tomahawk space has become crowded as of late and finding the best tactical tomahawk from this crop can be a challenge. You could surely seek a more expensive, flashier option than the Smith & Wesson Extraction and Evasion Tomahawk but you really should not let that distract you.

This tactical tomahawk can be thought of like a tough old grandfather: It will simply get the job done every time. It won’t complain, or give up on you half way. It will do what you ask of it, full stop.

The Extraction and Evasion Tomahawk is extremely well built and makes for an intimidating self-defense option. Its hefty weight of 2.7 lbs and longer than average length (15.9″) will provide the leverage and force required to destroy a lock or silence an enemy’s weapon in a heartbeat.

The thick, full tang construction of the S&W Tomahawk makes this a great tool that can be applied to any hands-on tactical situation.

The fact that it retails around the $50 price point makes it a no-brainer for anyone looking for a reliable tactical tomahawk.

There are many other tactical tomahawks out there that deliver far less for 5 times the price.

Save your money and go with the Smith and Wesson Extraction and Evasion Tomahawk, it is our pick for the best tactical tomahawk.

Best Urban Tomahawk: Gerber Downrange Tomahawk

The Gerber Downrange Tomahawk is the multitool of breaching tools. It ingeniously combines the cutting power of an ax with the sheer force of a hammer and the leverage of a pry bar.

It is an all-in-one urban survival tool for anyone looking for a compact option for defeating building doors and windows or a fast reaction vehicle extraction tool.

Gerber is renowned for making high quality gear with the practical user in mind. This is clearly a tool that is built to last and the all-in-one design makes it the most versatile breaching tomahawk on the market.

The Gerber Downrange would be a great addition to an urban bug out bag and would be an immense aid in scavenging or rescue efforts.

Solid build quality coupled with extreme versatility earns the Gerber Downrange our pick for best urban tomahawk.

How To Choose The Best Tomahawk

The first thing to consider when looking for the best tomahawk is what you intend to use it for primarily. A survival tomahawk that will be used mainly for chopping and breaching should have different features than one that will be a primary self-defense tool.

Let’s look at the parts of a survival tomahawk and examine what styles are best for which tasks.

Handle Length

Tomahawks range in length from 8-20 inches.

Determining how long your tomahawk should be will depend on your intended usage.

A longer handle will provide greater leverage when prying and increased force when swinging but will be less compact and heavier.

A smaller handle will enable more effective usage in close quarters and add less volume and weight to a pack.

Here are some applications that are ideally suited for each type of handle:

Long Handle Tomahawk

Splitting wood
Chopping trees
Opening doors
Breaking locks
Butchering large game
Forceful opening of vehicles for rescue
Piercing tough materials – kevlar, sheet metal, wood, heavy plastic
Prying

Short Handle Tomahawk

Long hikes (lightweight and compact)
Close quarters self-defense
Throwing
Precision chopping
Evacuating vehicles
Butchering small game

Back Side

The rear of the tomahawk, also called the poll or butt is traditionally flat or rounded. However, many modern tomahawks offer the option of a spike on the back. Once again choosing what type of poll your tomahawk has will depend on what problems you intend to solve with it.

A bushcraft tomahawk will typically have a flat butt for hammering. If you are looking for the best tactical tomahawk for your kit you are probably going to be seeking a spiked back for effective piercing.

It is worth noting that both a flat but or a spike will effectively break glass. Here are some advantages of each option:

Flat back

Hammering
Pounding
Forcefully opening doors
Defeating locks
Easier to carry and deploy

Spike

Piercing
Prying
Self-defense
Intimidation

Cutting Edge

There are many options for the business end of your survival tomahawk. As with every element choosing the best tomahawk for your kit will depend on your intended usage.

Cutting Edge Length

A longer cutting edge will require a larger and heavier ax head. This added weight and edge length will, however, allow for greater force in your swings. This will make splitting wood and chopping doors easier. Many of the best tactical tomahawks have circular cutouts in their cheeks to save weight without sacrificing the cutting edge size. This may be a good option if you want the largest cutting edge without the added fatigue of a big, heavy tomahawk.

A narrower cutting edge will typically be able to pierce deeper with each strike as it will encounter less resistance. This will make a narrower cutting edge better for emergency vehicle extraction and for piercing heavy duty materials.

Spine and Beard Options

If you are looking for the best tactical tomahawk for your kit it is worth mentioning that modern tomahawks come with additional sharp edges beyond the traditional cutting edge.

This is thought to provide a tactical advantage as it opens up additional options for attack and defense when using a tactical tomahawk. Many modern tomahawk makers have started including these options and it is worth considering when finding the best hawk to meet your needs.

The Best Tomahawk: Take Your Pick

As you can see, there are many factors to consider when choosing the best tomahawk for your kit. As with any survival tool you should consider what you are most likely to use your tomahawk for.

A survival tomahawk is an excellent all around choice for their high versatility and compact designs. If you have more specialized tasks in mind like breaching doors, extracting people from vehicles, or serious self-defense you may want to consider a more specialized tool such as a breaching or tactical tomahawk.

Hopefully, our guide here has helped you understand the many qualities that make a good tomahawk such a valuable addition to a bug out bag or survival kit.

To recap, here are our top picks for best tomahawks by category:

Best Survival Tomahawk: CRKT Kangee
Best Tactical Tomahawk: Smith and Wesson Extraction and Evasion Tomahawk
Best Urban Tomahawk: Gerber Downrange Tomahawk

Your Thoughts?

Do you have a survival tomahawk that you love? What qualities do you think the best tactical tomahawk should have? Please let us know in the Comments Section below!

The Best Tactical Pen For Your Kit

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A tactical pen can be a good option for a self-defense tool in an emergency. They make great every day carry companions due to their small size, light weight, concealability, and dual purpose functionality.

In this article, we will show you how to choose the best tactical pen for your EDC kit or Bug Out Bag by taking a look at some of the best options on the market.

We’ve conducted extensive research and built the table below to allow you to compare some of the best tactical pens on the market.

Pen	Size	Weight	Features	Cost	Material
Gerber Impromptu Tactical Pen	5.59"	1.02 oz	Integrated glassbreaker	$$	Machined steel
Schrade Survival Tactical Pen	5.9"	1.7 oz	Integrated survival whistle, glass breaker, and magnesium fire starter	$$	Anodized aluminum
Uzi Defender Tactical Pen	6"	2.4 oz	Heavy Duty, incudes integrated glassbreaker	$	Aircraft Aluminum
CRKT Williams Tactical Pen	6"	1.2 oz	Tapered body to aid grip retention	$$	Machined anodized aluminum
Smith and Wesson M&P Tactical Pen	5.7"	1.4 oz	Ridged body for excellent finger holds	$	T6061 Aircraft Aluminum
Vktech Tactical Pen	5.7"	3.7 oz	Scoops on back for catching attacker's DNA, makes and excellent glass breaker	$	Aircraft Aluminum
Schrade Tactical Pen	5.7"	1.6 oz	Highly Inconspicuous Screw on/off cap	$	CNC machined 6061 aircraft aluminum
Smith and Wesson 3rd Gen Tactical Pen	5.7"	1.4 oz	Includes stylus tip on one end for touchscreens	$	T6061 Aircraft Aluminum

What Is A Tactical Pen?

A tactical pen is a writing tool that is also designed to be used as a defensive weapon.

Tactical pens are typically made of metal or a very sturdy plastic. Aircraft-grade aluminum and titanium are frequently employed to make strong, lightweight, tactical pens.

One or both ends of the tactical pen is typically tapered to a point to allow for it to be used as a thrusting self-defense tool. Whereas a normal pen would bend or break if used in a defensive scenario, a tactical pen is designed exactly for this use.

Why Carry A Tactical Pen?

People carry tactical pens for many reasons.

Some may just want a high-quality pen that looks good and matches other gear they may have, like a folding knife or other tactical equipment.

The main reason people carry tactical pens is to have a reliable self-defense tool that can be hidden in plain sight.

While a knife or firearm will draw most anyone’s attention if spotted while being carried, a tactical pen is more of a “gray man” option. Most tactical pens will pass a security or TSA inspection, therefore, can be carried almost anywhere.

UPDATE: A reader has sent this article to show that some of the more aggressive style pens do get confiscated at airport checkpoints. Consider this when choosing your pen if you plan on traveling with it.

With some basic training, tactical pen carriers are more readily able to protect themselves wherever they go.

Another advantage of tactical pens is that often they are designed to be non-lethal and come with a blunt end that is intended to apply painful force to pressure points, sensitive areas, and other vulnerable locations on an attacker’s body. This can be an appealing non-lethal self-defense option for those not wanting to cause mortal damage to an attacker.

Others may just be looking to lighten their kit by combining their self-defense tool with their writing instrument into one small multipurpose item. A tactical pen is perfect for this.

Tactical pens are a robust, low key, self-defense option.

Best Overall Tactical Pen: Gerber Impromptu Tactical Pen

The Gerber Impromptu Tactical Pen doesn’t attempt to do absolutely everything its competitors try for but instead chooses to execute the essential functions of a tactical pen with authority.

It comes out of the box with a Rite In The Rain ink cartridge, so you will be able to confidently take notes, mark maps, and more in any conditions.

It also has a low profile glass breaker integrated into the tip to assist in emergency evacuations from vehicles of buildings.

Additionally, it is one of the few “click” pens you see in the tactical pen format, which I consider to be an advantage – no cap to unscrew every time and one less thing to lose.

Overall the machined steel body is extremely strong and will hold up to the roughest applications. Its various ridges and indentations ensure a positive grip should it be required to discourage aggressive behavior.

These features have all been added thoughtfully and executed flawlessly.

There is no excess on this tactical pen, and it strives to meet your daily needs at every turn.

Coming in around the $40 price point, the Gerber Impromptu Tactical Pen exceeds expectations and makes for a reliable companion for years to come.

Best Mid-Range Tactical Pen: Schrade Survival Tactical Pen

The Schrade Survival Tactical Pen gets our pick for the best mid-range tactical pen for several reasons. For one it has a ton of useful survival gear packed into its compact package including:

Survival Whistle
Glass Breaker
Magnesium Firestarter

These items alone justify the $25 price tag.

As a tactical pen if both writes well and is strong enough to be a functional self-defense item.

The narrow taper at the writing end serves well as a force multiplier if you ever needed to deter an attacker with it.

This tactical pen has a rather inconspicuous profile to it, unlike some other pens that have an obvious weaponized appearance.

Its ordinary appearance will help it avoid scrutiny from security checkpoints, ensuring that you will be able to defend yourself pretty much anywhere.

The Schrade Survival Tactical Pen is a solid mid-range tactical pen that will not disappoint.

Best Budget Tactical Pen: Vktech Tactical Pen

In the sub-$5 price range, there is no better choice than the Vktech Tactical Pen.

While you can’t expect it to be of the same quality as our previous picks, it still has excellent workmanship for the price.

Picking it up you can feel its solid construction.

The knurling along its body meshes perfectly with the palm of your hand for a comfortable non-slip grip.

The Vktech Tactical Pen offers reliability and durability at an unbeatable price making for a great entry-level option.

How Do I Choose The Best Tactical Pen For My Kit?

Pen Quality

When looking for the best tactical pen a good place to start is to choose one that writes well. This is the basic function of a tactical pen and is what you will use it for 99% of the time. The best tactical pens out there accept ink refills from quality producers like Parker and Hauser, Fischer Space Pen, and Rite in the Rain.

Self-Defense Features

Once you have a good writing tool, it is time to look at the defensive features to find the best tactical pen for your personal protection.

First, decide how you would want to use your tactical pen as a defensive tool.

A smaller woman, for example, may struggle to inflict damage with one of the blunt ended tactical pens and a tactical pen with a pointier end may be more suitable.

A larger person would probably be more able to strike with enough force to ward off an attacker with either of these options so they would have a wider variety of suitable tactical pens to choose from

Grip

In addition to being comfortable in your hand for writing, having a good grip is key to using the pen as a defensive tool.

In a self-defense scenario, you will likely be swinging it with velocity you will want to make sure the tactical pen stays put in your hand upon impact.

The best tactical pen you can choose will have ridges or grooves for your fingers to sit in and knurling to aid grip retention.

Best EDC Knife — Click to read our article on picking the BEST EDC Knife

Attachment Clip

The best tactical pens on the market will have a robust pocket clip for attaching the pen to a pocket, bag, or belt.

Many pens also have additional attachment options for keyrings, carabiners, and paracord.

Make sure the tactical pen you choose has an attachment option that matches the way you intend to carry it.

Extra Features

A common point of differentiation to look for when finding the right tactical pen is to keep an eye out for unique features.

Many tactical pen makers work to make their products stand out by incorporating additional features such as:

Hidden Handcuff Key
Magnesium Firestarter
Window/Glass Breaker
DNA Catching Scoops (for identifying an attacker to law enforcement)

Keep an eye out for special features such as these when choosing your tactical pen.

How to Use a Tactical Pen

There are many schools of thought of the best way to use a tactical pen for self-defense.

If you are going to carry one, it is essential to train in how to use it effectively.

Once you have learned proper technique, it is as important to PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE.

Typical tactical pen targets include:

Pressure Points

Armpit
Neck
Inner arm
Inner thigh

Sensitive Areas

Throat
Eyes
Ears
Groin
Ribs
Solar Plexus
Nose

BONUS: Instructional Video

Here is a helpful instructional video to get you started.

Conclusion

There are a lot of great options out there for carrying a reliable, multipurpose tactical pen.

Finding the BEST tactical pen for your needs can be a challenge, but hopefully, the suggestions we have made will help you decide.

Once again, here are our picks:

Best Overall Tactical Pen: Gerber Impromptu Tactical Pen
Best Mid-Range Tactical Pen: Schrade Survival Tactical Pen
Best Budget Tactical Pen: Vktech Tactical Pen

Want Even MORE Info On Building Your EDC Kit?

If you are looking for even more information on how to build your ultimate EDC kit you can check out my book, The Every Day Carry Guide. It is a comprehensive manual that will teach you:

How to be prepared at all times – no matter where you are
How to build your first EDC kit from scratch
How to refine an existing kit to make it more effective
How to pick the best gear to realistically make you more prepared
How to assess threats and risks in your every day life

Your Thoughts?

Do you have a tactical pen that you want to share? Is there a quality you NEED to have when finding the best tactical pen for your environment? Please let us know in the Comments Section below.

Inspirational Survival Quotes To Motivate Your Prepping

Winning Survival Quotes To Keep You Motivated

1. The only easy day was yesterday

Who said it?

Basically every Navy SEAL ever. This is their motto.

Meaning

Every day is a new challenge and the only easy things are ones that are already completed. If it was easy, they wouldn’t be sending The SEALs to take care of it. Survival is the most difficult thing anyone can be called upon to do. We are not accustomed to thinking about this because we are so far removed from day-to-day surviving in our modern world. Being able to go to the grocery store and pick out a multitude of tasty foods that have travelled hundreds (or thousands) of miles without any effort from the consumer is truly a mind boggling thing. However take this away and the unprepared person will turn desperate after missing 2 meals or less. When you are relying on your own skills and wit to eke out your existence truly the only easy day was yesterday. Every day in a survival situation is a battle for life itself. Think of this when you are prepping, self preservation is the most motivating thing there is.

2. The guy on the street is sitting on his couch right now watching TV!

Who said it?

Emilio Garcia – Head instructor of the Mixed Martial Art Combat Fighting Systems

Meaning

This is a personal one for me as I trained with Emilio for 5 fantastic years. He would yell this at us when we were face down on a dirty gym floor, too exhausted to do any more pushups or when you were sparring and someone wanted to quit. Comparing what we were doing – pushing ourselves to our personal breaking points – to what our potential adversaries in a street fighting scenario were likely doing at that moment – sitting on the couch watching TV – was extremely motivating. We knew that the more we sweated in the gym to prepare, the less likely we would be to bleed in the street. In survival prepping the comparison is obvious. You are investing your time now on weekends and nights after putting the kids to bed so that when you need to survive, you will be prepared. Are you the person in the gym or the guy on the street?

3. I have not yet begun to fight

Who Said It?

John Paul Jones – Revolutionary War Naval Officer

Meaning

John Paul Jones is one of the most celebrated Naval officers of the American revolution and with good reason. In addition to capturing multiple enemy vessels and leading daring raids on both British Controlled Nova Scotia and England’s home shores he drew enough animosity from the King to be labeled a pirate with the likes of Blackbeard! Jones gave us this quote during a battle off the Scottish coast in September of 1779. Although his ship, the Bonhomme Richard was burning AND sinking when told to surrender by the British commander he replied that he had not yet begun to fight! He proceeded to whip the British fleet and accept their surrender within 3 hours of his response. Moral of the story: when faced with dire odds dig deep and trust in your own abilities and skills. You have prepared long and hard for the challenges ahead and you CAN overcome them.

4. Chance Favors The Well Prepared

Who said it?

Unknown, surely they were a prepper though.

Meaning

With all the chaos and uncertainty in the modern world it is impossible to predict what may come. However if there is a terrorist attack or natural disaster in your area, it is the people who have prepared for it who will fare best. Prepping is an investment in your future. When you need to survive that investment pays off big time.

5. Nuts!

Who said it?

General Anthony C. McAuliffe, in response to the ultimatum of surrender from the German commander during the WWII Battle Of The Bulge

Meaning

On December 22, 1944 the American troops fighting around the town of Bastogne were encircled by German infantry and armor. Recognizing his advantage the German commander of these forces sent a polite but forceful request to the American commander, General McAuliffe demanding that he surrender honorably or face annhilation. General McAuliffe’s response was as terse as it was defiant, “NUTS!”.

The American troops managed to hold out under the brutal onslaught that followed until the 4th Armored Division arrived on December 26th to provide reinforcement.

This act of defiance can be a lesson to us all that even when all hope is lost there is still a way to survive. Remember this when preparing your survival plan and developing your skills, it may be that your strength of will alone carries you and your loved ones through your next ordeal.

6. If

Who said it?

The Ephors (Leadership council) of ancient Sparta

Meaning

When King Philip II of neighboring Macedonia was preparing to invade Sparta he sent the following message, “You are advised to submit without further delay, for if I bring my army into your land, I will destroy your farms, slay your people, and raze your city”. The Spartans responded with the gusto of the fearless with a simple, “If”. King Philip ultimately chose not to test the Spartan’s will and moved on to easier conquests.

We could look to the Spartans for many inspirational survival quotes. Although lesser known than the infamous “Molon Labe” (Come and take them – referring to his army’s weapons) Spoken by King Leonidas (of 300 fame) “If” equally demonstrates the Spartan’s both willingness to fight and confidence in their preparation and training. We should all strive to reach this mindset in our prepping. No matter what the threat – terrorism, home invasion, earthquake, or whatever else – IF it happens we are prepared to survive.

7. It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.

Who said it?

Legendary football coach Vince Lombardi

Meaning

Coach Lombardi would say this to his players as a means of inspiring toughness and resilience in their mindsets. It is a fantastic approach to disaster preparedness planning and many other aspects of life. A survival scenario is dynamic and unpredictable by nature, there are going to be setbacks. Set up your bug out plan to overcome these setbacks. Develop your survival skills to be able to solve any problems that may be thrown your way. You are likely to get knocked down in a survival situation mentally and possibly literally. Be prepared to get back on and keep moving forward.

8. Out of every one hundred men, ten shouldn’t even be there, eighty are just targets, nine are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one is a warrior, and he will bring the others back.

Who said it?

Heraclitus, Greek philosopher and historian, 500 BC

Meaning

While one of the lengthier survival quotes it is also a personal favorite of mine. While Heraclitus made the statement in reference to an army it is applicable to many situations. Next time you are in a crowd look around and think about this quote. How many of the people present are ready to survive should an emergency occur? How many will panic? How many will not know what to do? Are you the 1-in-100 that will survive and thrive when the time comes or are you one of the 80 targets? Your prepping and learning of survival skills should turn you into the warrior that brings your loved ones back.

Conclusion

I hope you liked our survival quotes. If you are motivated to start building your Bug Out Bag click thru to our Custom BOB List Building Tool below! This will let you pick what you want in your BOB from a list of survival gear, check the estimated weight, and then email the checklist to your inbox, all for FREE! Click on the button below to give it a try:

Your Thoughts?

What do you think of these survival quotes? Do you have any survival quotes that you would like to share? Please let us know in the Comments Section below.

The Best EDC Flashlights – Our Picks and How to Choose

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After essential basics such as a wallet, keys, phone, and knife, finding the best EDC flashlight is an important element of developing your every day carry kit.

Having a good flashlight can improve survivability in many situations in addition to it being highly useful in day-to-day circumstances.

With the right EDC flashlight, you’ll never get caught in the dark!

There are a lot of EDC flashlights on the market, and it can be confusing to find the best flashlight for your EDC kit. We will help your search by showing our Top 10 and give our picks for the best overall, entry level, and mid-level EDC flashlights.

We will also discuss what qualities to look for when choosing your EDC flashlight for your needs including features, lumens, beam types, switch variations, and more.

Note: If you are new to the concept of EDC (Every Day Carry), you may want to check out my article here, which explains the basics and will help you design your first EDC kit.

Best Overall EDC Flashlight: Fenix PD35

With a scorching 1000 lumen output, the Fenix PD35 is practically a lightsaber. That level of illumination is effective for tactical usage and any basic task that you could throw at it. This lumen output is even more impressive given the flashlight’s sub-$100 price tag. The Fenix PD35 has 6 output options for outstanding versatility and weighs in at only 3oz.

If having a reliable, extremely bright light is essential to your EDC kit, this is the one for you.

Best Mid-Range EDC Flashlight: Olight S10

The Olight S10 is a compact powerhouse. Its tiny size (2.7 x 1.9 inches) and minuscule weight (2.4 oz) make it ideal for a lightweight EDC kit. The Olight S10 packs 320 lumens into this tiny package and can cycle through its 5 pre-programmed modes of high, medium, low, moonlight, and strobe.

All that versatility stuffed in a tiny package makes this flashlight an easy choice at approximately $50.

Best Entry-Level EDC Flashlight: Fenix E12

The Fenix E12 is a gem in the entry-level EDC flashlight field. It is reasonably priced in the sub-$30 range and produces 130 lumens in a compact package that makes it perfect for a keychain light. Add the versatility of running on a single AA battery, and you have a real winner for a basic every day flashlight.

Flashlight Features: How to Choose the Best EDC Flashlight

Whatever EDC flashlights you consider you should be aware of these basic qualities when determining which one is best for you.

Lumens

Most flashlights will describe how many lumens the light produces in their packaging or product descriptions.

Understanding lumens gives you an excellent way to perform an apples-to-apples comparison of the most basic function of an EDC light which is providing illumination.

A lumen is the unit of measure of the total amount of visible light produced by a source. Basically, how bright the flashlight is. The more lumens it can produce the brighter the beam will be.

Basic flashlights are usually 10 lumens, and high-end search and rescue lights can be over 18,000 lumens.

Typically, EDC flashlights will be in the 50-1000 lumen range but consider how you are likely to use your light to help determine how many lumens you really need.

Bulb Type

Since the invention of the flashlight, incandescent bulbs have been shedding light into the dark corners of our lives. However, in recent years, LED (Light Emitting Diode) flashlights have begun to take over this role. LED lights are particularly favored for every day carry kits because they offer greater efficiency, better battery consumption, greater brightness, and far better impact resistance than old-fashioned incandescent light bulbs.

Choosing an LED based bulb for your EDC flashlight is a no-brainer at this point.

Battery Type

Most commercially available flashlights use either AA or CR123 batteries. While AA is the tried and true old guard, the CR123 is a more recently available challenger.

AA Batteries for your EDC Flashlight – AA batteries have been around for many years and are a reliable source of power for many gadgets. AA batteries are based on alkaline cell technology that is tried and true. AAs are typically cheaper and more widely available than newer batteries as well as being a smaller diameter and longer in size.
CR123 Batteries for Your EDC Flashlight – CR123 batteries are based on lithium cell technology and can provide greater energy storage and output allowing for a brighter, longer lasting flashlight in most cases. CR123 batteries are however more expensive and less readily available than AAs, and although they are shorter in length, they have a wider diameter. Because of this, flashlights using CR123 batteries are typically more compact but fatter than ones using AAs. CR123 batteries are also typically lighter (.6oz for CR123 compared to .9oz for AA) which can result in a lighter flashlight overall. Lithium cell batteries also provide higher performance in cold temperatures.

So, which battery is best? It depends on what you are looking for.

If you want a light that uses a battery that is more readily available in a survival scenario, AA is probably best for you. If performance and weight reduction are paramount to you, CR123 is the way to go.

Generally speaking, for an EDC kit, where the availability of batteries isn’t really an issue, CR123 is a nice option.

Flashlight Size

As with most EDC gear, keeping things compact is essential.

No one wants to carry anything heavy or bulky with them as part of their every day carry kit.

The best EDC flashlights can typically provide a high amount of illumination while staying under 4″ long. The trade-off for having a tiny EDC light is that you will have less space inside to fit a battery so you may sacrifice some power if you choose an ultra-compact flashlight. This is an important trade-off to consider, and you will have to strike a balance when finding the best EDC flashlight for you.

Waterproof Rating

You never know what conditions you will need to use your EDC flashlight in. However, if you may need illumination in the rain or during a flood, having a light that is not waterproof is about as useful as not having one at all.

Most quality lights will be rated as waterproof or at least water-resistant. Flashlights are typically rated using an IPX code which identifies water resistance testing and capabilities (see the chart below).

The bottom line is if you are looking for a flashlight for EDC purposes and it is not listed as being waterproof, move on to an option that is.

Body Construction Material

A metal body flashlight will be tougher and be able to take more abuse than a plastic one. Having a durable flashlight is important it will likely receive some knocks, drops, and bumps as you carry it every day.

Selecting a metal flashlight will result in a longer lasting tool that is functional when you need it.

Weight

As with any item on your EDC list you want something that provides the greatest utility at the lowest weight. No one wants to be carrying around an anchor in their pocket, purse or EDC bag. When selecting the best EDC flashlight for your kit, you can keep weight down by choosing a small light or one made of lightweight materials such as aluminum or titanium. Selecting a flashlight with a CR123 type battery is another way to save weight. Look for a flashlight that weighs less than 5 oz to keep your pockets light.

Beam Features

Adjustable beam – Having an adjustable beam significantly increases the versatility of your EDC flashlight. Being able to choose to illuminate a wide area when conducting a search and then changing to a narrow beam for signaling or tactical scenarios will make sure your EDC light meets any need you may have.
Flashing/Signaling Capabilities – Some flashlights come with multiple modes available beyond the ability to shine a plain beam. While this may not be a feature you think you would need, flashing and signaling capabilities can come in handy. Both are invaluable when trying to signal for help or to communicate at a distance in the dark.

Attachment Options

Just about any quality EDC flashlight will have some attachment options. Attachment options usually include a pocket clip, lanyard loop, carabiner clip, or keyring. Make sure whatever option the EDC light you choose is compatible for how you intend to carry it.

Even the best EDC flashlight will bring frustration if you can’t carry it that way you want.

Switch Type

Like the attachment option, make sure the switch your EDC flashlight uses is compatible with the way you intend to carry it. Most importantly make sure that the switch, twist collar, or button, is reliable and will not turn on while in your pocket or bag. Nothing is worse than opening up your bag and seeing the weak yellow glow of a flashlight with a dying battery right when you need to use it.

Parting Advice: How To Pick The Best EDC Flashlight For Your Needs

As you can see, there are a lot of options out there when trying to find the best EDC flashlight.

Remember the basics of finding a reliable light that is comfortable to carry around with you on an everyday basis.

Don’t skimp on quality and look for features that match your specific needs.

Feel free to refer to our favorite EDC flashlights as options for your kit:

Best Overall EDC Flashlight: Fenix PD35
Best Mid-Range EDC Flashlight: Olight S10
Best Entry-Level EDC Flashlight: Fenix E12

Want Even MORE Info On Building Your EDC Kit?

Another cornerstone of any EDC kit is a knife. Read our guide to choosing the best knife for your EDC kit.

If you are looking for even more information on how to build your ultimate EDC kit you can check out my book, The Every Day Carry Guide. It is a comprehensive manual that will teach you:

How to be prepared at all times – no matter where you are
How to build your first EDC kit from scratch
How to refine an existing kit to make it more effective
How to pick the best gear to realistically make you more prepared
How to assess threats and risks in your everyday life

Your thoughts?

Do you have a favorite EDC flashlight that you recommend? Are there any particular features that you look for when finding the best EDC light for your needs? Please let us know in the Comments Section below!