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
Man, I have some cool goodies to share with you Survival Bros. Check out the custom leather wallet, and #EDC “Pocket Armor” organizer I had made. Popov Leather did an amazing job creating these exquisite pieces by hand. They are located in British Columbia, Canada and have been excellent at communicating with me for this collaboration. Check out their YouTube Channel and website. Popov is offering a discount right now. If you have something made by them, send me a photo at thesurvivalbros@gmail.com and I will share it. I want to see more gear from these Artists. I plan on ordering more items, and producing videos soon for the SB YT Chan.
Learn how to get freebies from companies by asking for products. Cam with #SurvivalBros shows you free supplement and food samples received via the mail in this HD video haul, mail call vlog. He either called customer service, or wrote each marketing department an email with a request. They want to know about your social media impact, and what you do! You can also ask for valuable coupons to save even more money when shopping.
SUBSCRIBE, LIKE, COMMENT, AND SHARE. Thanks for your support. What do you want #survivalbros to make a movie on next?
Survival Bros goes car camping, and cooks food with the new Pinnacle Base Camper Large from GSI Outdoors. The slick gear features their nFORM Destination System, offering a nesting design for compact storage. Watch in HD video as I show you how it works, and clean it with ease.
The camp cookware is top quality. Each item is designed for hard use, and extended durability. The Teflon coating on the two pots, and large skillet is abrasion resistant, so harmful chemicals won’t be scratched off into food. Plus, the metal is proven to distribute heat evenly, for quick cooking. You can see in the vlog how my food is boiling over the entire radius. Also, GSI Outdoors has developed every product they make to be BPA-free. That’s good, because I don’t want my hormones being disrupted. This Washington State based company has the excursion items you need. Carrying around swag from them makes my life much easier, because it does the job, and lasts.
The Base Camper Large is ideal for a group of four, so I intend on using it when I entertain while tenting with friends, or I’m just super hungry. You’ll be glad you got a set like this if you enjoy camping, an preparing meals outdoors. Retail price is $109.95. Visit GSI Outdoors for more info, and check out the Pinnacle Camper set for the ultimate, integrated cooking and eating solution.
Survival Bros opens a brand new blade called the Cold Steel Recon Tanto. Watch the HD video for the glorious tech specs, and the reasons why we purchased this model. The weapon will be going to Afghanistan on deployment soon. It’s a magnificent tool, and a work of art. Plus, since it’s a Cold Steel, you know its been torture tested to the max, and can take any beating you can dish out. Like the Recon Tanto knife? Tell us about it.
In this video we check out a new tool for the woods, cover the details, and our planned usage. I can’t wait to throw this tomahawk! The Cold Steel Frontier Hawk feels extremely well balanced. It’s an excellent value for the low retail price of just $39.99. Make sure to visit http://www.coldsteel.com to watch their awesome videos, and request a free product catalog and DVD.
You can’t go wrong with the Cold Steel Frontier Hawk in your hand.
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 my new and improved EDC keychain system. Now I have many practical items handy at all times, with little redundancy. I plan on changing out gear as I acquire smaller, higher quality tools, but this is stuff I had on hand. Everything fits easily in my pocket, since I usually wear athletic shorts, and not tight pants like a hipster. I’ve also hooked my everyday carry survival keychain to the belt loop on my jeans, and to the outside of my tactical Bug Out Bag, for easy access. I’d like to add a telepen, peanut lighter, USB thumb drive, glow in the dark tape, 550 paracord, bit driver, seat-belt cutter/knife sharpener, and maybe something for self defense like a kubaton, or pepper spray.
I will update this blog post as the project develops. Tell us what’s on your keychain, and help out other Survival Bros readers. Below is the EDC Keychain items list. Thanks for visiting.
– Sharpie Mini – CRKT Eat N’ Tool (tactical spork) – 4 In One Tool: whistle, compass, thermometer, magnifying glass – Gerber Shard multitool: pry bar, bottle/can opener, Phillips/Standard screw driver, nail puller – Coast Products TX5 Night Vision Red Keychain light – LED LENSER P3 AFS P focusing LED light with pocket clip, sheath, and carabiner included – Leatherman Style Multitool: knife, tweezers, nail file, and scissors – Kershaw Rainbow Chive with Tip-lock (Ken Onion Design) – Mini Nail Clippers – Waterproof pill container – Lighter Leash for Bic – Belt Loop Clasp
My dad and I just got back to the Oregon Coast, after a 4 day trip playing on the McKenzie River and the trail. First we geared up, and hit the rapids with the Oregon Whitewater Association. A group of 70 extreme outdoor enthusiasts floated 14 miles down the river. The water was brutally cold, at only 47 degrees. I fell off our cataraft for the first time after we smashed into a log along the bank. I didn’t have time to be fearful. I was just trying to catch my breath from the shock of the water, and keep my legs up as I floated down. Of course, I had a class 3 life jacket on. I swam to the back of the boat, but didn’t like being where I couldn’t see the rocks ahead of me. Plus, I didn’t want to get trapped under the massive military grade raft. So I separated from the craft, and tried to swim to shore, but the water was moving too fast, and nobody there could help me. I swam to the side of the raft, and was barely able to climb back on. I had to quickly jump off the river bottom to boost myself up. I was fatigued, and just wanted to sit down and assess my injuries. I hit my knee on a rock, and bloodied by shin up. I was only in the river for a few minutes, but it wouldn’t have been long before my body started shutting down, and hypothermia set in. It was intense.
I had my iPhone 4S in my pocket with a LifeProof case on when I went overboard. It worked. No water got in thankfully. In my other pocket I was carrying the new Coast DX335 rescue knife. It stayed clipped on, but luckily I didn’t have to use it. You’d be surprised how many people die on the river getting tangled in ropes. Below is a funny clip I took with the LifeProof case on my cell. It took great video, and you can hear my dad yelling at me to put it away. He thought it was going to get splashed, or fall in as we hit the drop in the rapids. Also below is an HD video review of the Coast Products knife. I will update this blog as I get media online. I used my GoPro Hero 3 Black camera to record my treacherous mountain bike ride down the McKenzie River Trail. That will be up soon. Thanks for visiting Survival Bros. Follow us on Twitter, Youtube, and join the community on Facebook. Peace.
The Portland Expo Center is hosting the 38th annual Pacific Northwest Sportsman’s show from February 6 – 10, 2013. I went on opening day. It was $8 to park, and another $12 for admission. I made the trip worthwhile, checking out every booth and demonstration.
This show has something for every adventurer. There’s boating, rving, and fishing exhibits, to name a few. So if you’re looking for gear, or ideas on where to travel, this is for you. I was impressed with the high amount of outfitters around. There’s a guide for everything under the sun. Most were for hunting trips, but I saw whitewater rafting experts offering their services too. I liked talking up the small, mom and pop vendors with interesting, lesser known products. My favorite item I found is called Squat Strap (www.squatmonkey.com). It’s a strap that wraps around a tree, or rock to help support you while you go poop. Brilliant. Now I can read a business book outside, while doing my business. I had to get a strap to test. More on that soon.
I also talked to a local inventor named Andy Gorman. He developed the Retractable Tool Tether, so you stop dropping things (www.retractabletooltether.com). I picked up a few of these to review also. I’ll put one on my jacket, and one on my EDC backpack. Maybe I will stop losing things. Doubtful.
There was lots to peruse, and stuff to sample. I tasted storable foods, oils, jams, meats, and energy drinks. Skoal was giving away cans of chew, put I passed. The Expo was serving beer as well. And at one booth you could try panning for gold, or buy a small nugget. Fun, but I will be panning outside. I shopped knives too, and picked up product catalogs to browse later. If you like the outdoors better than the indoors, visit this show before it’s gone.
Official Movie Trailer for Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soapbox (Available to watch instantly on Netflix)
Chances are, you’ve heard of Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap. It’s 18-in-1! It can lather you from head to toes with a few tingly drops of peppermint, or other natural varieties. I could go on all day about why I like this product, and company, but here’s a few things I appreciate. Plus, Dr. Bronner’s is currently raising money to fight Malaria in Eastern Ghana. More on that, and the link below.
I like Dr. Bronner’s because they create Fair Trade Organic products. Their bottles are also made of recycled plastic. And you can clean just about anything with the soap. From clothes, to your stinky dog. The soap can revitalize it. Also, Dr. Bronner’s uses a “combination of organic extra virgin coconut, olive, jojoba and hemp oils, together with pure essential oils.” Epic. I feel so good after scubbing down with this stuff. It’s unlike any product you’ve tried. My favorite is the Tea Tree liquid soap. I also use Dr. Bronner’s Lemon Lime lip balm. I got a tube from the Astoria Co-Op for $3.
While the soap products are fascinating, Dr. Bronner and his family are even more intruiging. In his movie Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soapbox, you see his rise from a desperate life, to a fulfilled one. His family carries his ideas, and legacy, and spreads it to a new generation of aware individuals. Common people love his story, and can relate to the company’s humble beginnings. Really, it’s what’s on the label that has so many people talking. It’s plastered with vast amounts of info, such as Bible verses, and important quotes. Buy a bottle for the read alone.
No I didn’t get compensated to write this. Refreshingly, Dr. Bronner’s doesn’t even advertise. I just think they are an excellent example of what a great American company can be. They call it Constructive Capitalism. It’s where you share profits with the employees that made them for you. Crazy idea huh? All is One.
Dr. Bronner’s is raising $25,000 to provide life-saving mosquito nets for thousands of families to prevent the spread of malaria, a common disease in Ghana. Help, and receive a free gift.
Survival Bros by Cameron McKirdy 