Love and kindness are the very basis of society. If we lose these feelings, society will face tremendous difficulties; the survival of humanity will be endangered. - Dalai Lama
I get a kick out of being an outsider constantly. It allows me to be creative. - Bill Hicks
The status quo sucks. - George Carlin
“If the fool would persist in his folly, he would become wise.” – William Blake
Survival Bros checks out a survival tin kit example at Cougar Ridge Knives in Gearhart, OR. What would you put in your Altoids container? Feel free to criticize, or praise this kit. We didn’t make it. It’s all in good fun for preparedness. Send or drop off your survival tin for a chance to win three great prizes. Our giveaway has been extended to May 1, 2014. Here’s the original blog post with the official contest rules, etc.
Watch the video for the Survival Bros. and Cougar Ridge Knives contest:
Produced By Cameron McKirdy and Tactical Gypsy of Survival Bros.
I need coffee, and I need it now. I’m addicted to Joe, so when the portable GSI Outdoors Commuter Java Press walked into my life, I didn’t let go. This lightwight, modern french press must have taken years to develop, because it’s awesome. Survival Bros loves everything about it, plus it makes loose leaf. Some of the product feature highlights include it being BPA-free, grippy, insulated, and having a non-slip foot. All this combines for an easy to use, practical, and tactical coffee maker. The GSI Java Press costs only $22.95. So at that price why not steal one from them? There’s nothing negative to say about this product. It’s been Survival Bros tested, and came out on top. Visit http://www.gsioutdoors.com for all the information on this piece of gear. Please comment if you want.
Use the GSI Outdoors Commuter Java Press for hot, fresh coffee!
Jason shows off his big bad three wheeler at The Cove near the beach. This vehicle can carry massive amounts of cargo, and it handles extremely well. I’ve seen him drift it, and ride on two wheels down the prom in Seaside, OR. Like his survival cycle? It’s comfortable, and functional. You’ll see it coming with the contrasting red and flat black paint. Survival Bros loves that it’s high visibility, even though it sits low. The extra lights make it considerably safer on the road less traveled. Thanks for visiting our emergency preparedness blog. Enter your email on the top left of the screen to subscribe! Peace.
In this HD video I show you my new Dr. Scholl’s Pain Relief Orthotics. I’ve been testing them for about three weeks, and they have scored off the chart in overall quality. This type is made just for men, and they fit size 8-12 shoes. I cut them down to size, threw them in my sneakers, and went to work. I was standing on concrete for 10 hours a day, and before I bought these inserts my feet were absolutely killing me. I had intense heel pain, and cramping throughout my entire foot. I couldn’t take a break, so I had to try something.
First I purchased a pair of flat, massaging gel inserts. They sucked. I still had heel pain. I took the off-brand cushioners out of my kicks to return, but they left a strange indentation on my insoles, so I’m going to keep them in those dress shoes for good. Then I stepped it up, and spent a few more dollars on the Dr. Scholl’s. I’ve never owned a pair of arch supports that weren’t custom to my flat feet, so I was skeptical. However, like I said in the video, they worked to relieve my pain immediately, and I forgot all about my discomfort. I’ve been using these ever since, and I had to recommend them to everyone that follows the Survival Bros blog. Please comment if you have purchased these orthotics, or something like it.
Would you use an icicle in a survival situation to protect yourself from an attacker? Survival Bros considers packing ice as an EDC item while outside just in case of an emergency. More silly videos shortly. Please like, comment, and subscribe to us on YouTube. Best wishes.
John McClane’s quick thinking saves his life yet again in the movie Die Hard 2
Learn all about the NEW contest from Survival Bros, and Cougar Ridge Knives! Visit, or ship your Altoids Survival Tin Kit to the shop for review at: 3348 Hwy 101 N. Seaside OR 97138 USA Call Rick Smith at (503) 738-9812 for additional details on this giveaway. There’s incredible prizes on the line. Lots more soon, so keep checking back on this blog post. Good luck preppers.
*Good news:
This contest has been extended, and is now running until May 1, 2014. So get those entries in. If you are shipping them, please include money for return postage. Thank you.
Here’s the official rules:
1. All contents must be legal commercially available products. All contents must fit inside an Altoids tin and close. Paracord can be used to wrap the tin.
2. Entry submissions can be returned with provided postage, or pickup within 30 days after the contest end.
3. Contest will run from 3/15/14 – 5/1/14. Entries will be judged on practical use and creativity.
Prizes:
1st Prize – Gerber emergency survival pack valued at $60
2nd Prize – Coast emergency lantern valued at $40
3rd Prize – CRKT Eat’N Tool valued at $8
Survival Bros visits a fine knife shop on the Oregon Coast. Stop by the store when you take a trip to the beach.
Owner Rick Smith tell you how you can create a knife with expert guidance at his shop Cougar Ridge Knives in Gearhart, Oregon.
There’s many freebie sites online that link to forms where you can request free samples from companies. In this video I show you all the stuff I’ve received in the mail, plus items I have taken from stores myself. You can also complain about product you don’t like to a company’s hotline, and they will send you a replacement, or a voucher redeemable at a shop near you.
New video of freebies I received this week including a $10 Starbucks gift card
First, I want to discuss how to get free samples by mail. It’s easiest to find a website like http://www.freebieshark.com which links to the latest promotions around the web. Generally, you just have to fill out a short form with your name and address to get a complementary trial size of whatever. Sometimes, you have to like a company’s Facebook page, Tweet about their business, or something like that before you can request a free sample. It takes a few seconds to complete most forms, especially if you allow your internet browser to auto fill in your information. As you can see in the Survival Bros video above, I’ve scored tons of things by quickly filling out forms online. I think my favorite gift was the four Keurig coffees in a sampler box. It’s not much, but freebies add up, and save you lots of cash in the long run.
In the video I also mention how I complain about items I’m not satisfied with to the company over the phone. These comment lines are always grateful I call, because my input helps make their product better. They apologize for my inconvenience, and send me vouchers good for a replacement item, and valuable coupons for the future. I said Planters sent me $15 to get a new item of my choosing, and here’s what the manufacturer coupons looked like before I spent them at UnSafeway.
The final and simplest way to get free stuff is to take it. Go to a business, such as a convenience store, and get packets of sugar, salt and pepper, honey, sauce, etc. Or if you’re eating at a fast food restaurant, politely ask for extra sauces. You can take home additional ranches, mustard and ketchup, or crackers. They won’t mind, and you rarely have to pay for these, so have fun, and use your imagination. Soon you’ll have a huge stockpile of goodies like me. This is what I had on hand to show today.
Now you know three ways to get free stuff. You can find an offer and fill out a form online to request a free sample, call the company directly if you are not satisfied with a product, or take a few extras from restaurants and stores. You have to embrace being a hoarder, and become a scavenger. I believe this is the essence of being a prepper. It’s good to have extra just in case. It’s free, why not take it? If I can get all these items in a few weeks, so can you. You just have to do some urban, and online hunting. Please comment if you have any questions and I will get back to you.
This is our 200th blog post! I’d like to thank everyone who has supported Survival Bros. I’ve had many guest authors, steady cameramen, and people behind the scenes feeding me ideas. Special thanks to local businesses that have allowed me to review their products. 2014 is going to be epic. Visit often, and please follow us by entering your email, plus subscribe on Youtube. Now here’s a video that I shot yesterday showing classy, ornate William Henry knives in high definition.
Survival Bros shops for a new luxury EDC knife at Diamond Showcase, a jeweler in Longview, WA
Their William Henry collection with knives, money clips, and fine pens
Starring Tactical Gypsy. A former Marine shares the EDC gear on his person, and in his tactical backpack. Thanks for watching Survival Bros. Please subscribe to us on Youtube for more, and on this blog.
By Cameron McKirdyI sling a day pack on my back nearly every day. I’ve mentioned the types of things I have in it before, like gear, food, and a warm change of clothes. So when I discovered the Ribz Front Pack, I was stoked. This innovative, steroid injected version of a fanny pack solves many of the challenges I face when backpacking. Here I am with it on the Hummocks Trailhead near Mount St. Helens in Washington State.One issue I have with a regular backpack is I’m constantly taking it off to grab water, my cell phone, or something else that isn’t handy. With Ribz Wear, it’s all right in front of me, so I can continue trail blazing. I also mention in the video how backpacks catch on trees when I have to duck under them. It usually happens a few times each hike, and I practically have to crawl under the obstacle. With my gear in front, navigating through heavy brush is considerably easier. The best part of this system is the pack is easy to adjust. My Dad’s chest and waist are smaller than mine, so after he used it, a quick tug on the straps in back and in front made it comfortable again for me. Plus, Ribz have long, padded shoulder straps, so it feels like a natural extension of your body. Check out the map of different Mount St. Helens Adventures. Back to the Ribz Front Pack review, I must mention the Large version I tested can hold absurd amounts, with an 11 liter capacity. Even with it packed full, I was able to swing my arms freely. My dad wore it, and noted that you could still use hiking poles with it on. Ribz makes smaller Front Packs with 8 liters of room too. Internally, there are separate pouches to keep smaller items organized. These elastic lined compartments will hold all your tools close to your ribs, and prevent them from rattling around. We both ran with it, and the pack remained snug, not bouncing around, or swaying side to side.In conclusion, the Ribz Front Pack is an excellent tool itself. The quality is unbelievable, and far superior to what I expected. It’s lightweight, at only 11 ounces, so it beats a backpack there too. However, I think it would be best suited for use with a rear pack, so the weight of your supplies can be evenly distributed forward and back, thus giving you better posture than wearing one or the other. But if you’re into ultralight backpacking, Ribz might be a dream come true. You can’t machine wash Ribz, but it cleans up nicely with a wet rag. I love the Cordura brand water resistant, ripstop material it’s fabricated with. I will be sporting my Ribz for a long time. I like it so much I want the smaller 8 liter pack too for shorter trips, and cross country running. I just don’t know which color to get next. Check out http://www.ribzwear.com to grab yours.
Cam makes instant coffee with an emergency water packet at Loowit Lookout near Mt. St. Helens in Washington State. Subscribe to Survival Bros on Youtube for more! Thanks for watching! Feel free to comment.
Survival Bros by Cameron McKirdy 