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 reviewing a new keychain light on the YouTube Channel. Subscribe now. We beat up this Nitecore until it failed. Nobody tests gear harder than us. In the end, it is a good buy. The metal case is tough! You can drop it on the ground without worry, and even in water with an IP54 rating. The new TIP SE is very bright, at 700 Lumens on Turbo Mode. Runtime = 50 hours on low. It is small, light weight, and lasts long on the quick charging Type C fueled battery. You also get a pocket/utility clip, keychain loop, and even a small USB cord in the box. Max distance is 90 meters. You’ll be happy owning this useful tool. Here’s the link to The Nitecore Store. Maybe we will test more of their products soon. Enjoy these gear photos, and drop a comment on this blog post. Share this article with your friends. Thanks for being here.
Survival Bros Product Testing The Gerber Prodigy Blade By Breaking a Glass Car Window
Using a “survival” knife to break glass for people locked out of their vehicle, Survival Bros helps by smashing a small car window, so the owner can get his keys and go home. The gentleman’s girlfriend locked the keychain in the car by accident before setting off on a day hike. At first, their solution was to simply throw a rock at the shiny, new BMW Sedan! They decided against that method of breaking in. He didn’t care about money it would cost to repair his ride, because he has auto insurance. I guess insurance covers women. The couple would have been stranded on the mountain at night, if they couldn’t get in. There’s NO cellphone service in The Forest. Fortunately, she was able to reach her arm in without getting hurt to pull the door handle open from the inside.
Would you call the Gerber Prodigy a true survival knife? Comment. It’s smaller, and only has versions featuring irritating serrations. Most friends I’ve encountered aren’t fond of this blade profile, because it takes away from the cutting surface area. Total length of 9.75 inches and blade length of 4.75 inches.
On the plus side, the sheath is quality, making it easy to lash, or attach to your backpack. MOLLE compatible, with a leg strap to try as a carrying position. The rubberized grip works well, and fits in hand ergonomically. It’s a bargain entry level survival or combat knife. Whatever you want to call it, or use it for, the price is right on Amazon for under $40 with free shipping. I’m going to beat mine to Hell this summer in the woods, then consider packing the LMF II, or something new. Have any knife recommendations for Survival Bros? You can always email me at thesurvivalbros@gmail.com
Watch Survival Bros breaking car windows with that blade too! It’s considerably bigger, and better.
Don’t try this! But if you do, wear proper eye and hand protection.
Follow Survival Bros on Instagram, or subscribe via email at top left of blog page! Thank you. Visit again soon for fun content. New articles, product reviews, and photos on the way. We are growing the community rapidly. This is awesome.
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.
In this HD video I drop my new LG G2 and Ballistic SG phone cover on gravel, then concrete from 6 ft high! I just got this smartphone, so I was terrified it would break. However, I know there’s fellow geeks out there that want to see Survival Bros stress test all kinds of gear, so I went for it. The Ballistic case worked well, but after taking off the cover I did notice a tiny dent on the rim of my LG G2. It’s purely cosmetic, and I can live with it, because my screen did not crack. Of course I would have preferred no damage, which I expected since it’s rated to six feet according to the manufacturer. The minuscule chip isn’t worth taking a picture of, and I’m pleased with my purchase overall. Therefore, I give it 4 out of 5 Stars. It’s still probably the best case out there for this recently released Android device, so until better cases are produced it’s staying on me as one of my everyday carry items. Have you had any experience with Ballistic Cases? Let us know. Thanks.
On a side note: I dropped this phone with the case on a few weeks back from about four feet up, and after all of my contacts had been erased! It was the strangest thing. My emails, and phone numbers never returned, and I didn’t delete them. Please comment on this blog post if something similar has happened to you.
One of the most popular every day carry knives is the Kershaw Chive designed by Ken Onion. This sly blade features the patented SpeedSafe assisted opening, giving it a remarkable feel. In the HD video I put the knife to the test, slicing a can, plastic bottle, different types of cordage, and much more. On Youtube I couldn’t find anyone doing a legit cut test with the Chive, so I made an extreme one.
I was genuinely surprised to see that the Kershaw didn’t dull after cutting the soda can. I muscled through the bottom, and I was sure it would damage the blade, or at least scratch the titanium-oxide rainbow coating. But even after that, I was able to shave off a good chunk of arm hair in a few strokes. The knife did everything I wanted it to, making it a perfect EDC tool. It’s ultra lightweight too, at only 1.7 ounces.
The Chive comes in a wide variety of colors, some with different handle materials, but the Rainbow version is the most expensive. There’s nothing girly about it. The wild coating reminds me of an oil slick, which are always interesting to look at. I like the stepped thumb studs, because they are rigid, making the small 1 15/16″ blade easy to open. However, I prefer to use the flipper on the back, because I feel it’s a little safer, and there’s no chance of slicing my thumb on deployment. It does have a solid tip-lock system for safety, so the knife won’t open when you pull it out of your pocket. In addition, I love the long, sturdy pocket clip. It’s not rainbow, just polished steel with the Kershaw logo etched down it. Plus, the jimping on the top of the blade gives you more control, which is good because the Chive is small, and somewhat slick due to the coating.
At the end of the day, the Kershaw Chive is a legend. Trust me, you want one. It makes a great keychain knife, and if you carry it on you, you’ll use it daily. For additional tech specs, and to view other models, visit http://kershaw.kaiusaltd.com/ Thanks for visiting and supporting Survival Bros – your emergency preparedness blog. Comments, likes, and shares are appreciated. What knife would you like me to test next, and what should I destroy with it? Peace.
The Kershaw Rainbow Chive – Model 1600VIB
My survival keychain video starring The Chive
Popping Blisters with the small knife after hiking on the PCT
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.
This is the blade I carry every day. It’s the famous Kershaw Blur, but with a carbide tip designed to shatter glass with ease. It does, as you can see in my video review below.
I’ve been testing the Kershaw Blur for 2 months now. I love it. It’s quality, and produced locally in Tualatin, OR. I rep gear made in the USA as much as possible, especially Oregon. The first thing that fascinated me with the knife is the unique design. It’s beautiful. Simple. Elegant. The subtle curves are sexy. I couldn’t wait to get her out of the box. Initially, I noticed how fine the blade is. It’s razor sharp. Also, I was impressed with how well the scallops cut. Slicing through materials like cardboard, plastic, rope, and paper is effortless, and so is opening it, thanks to the SpeedSafe assist. It flies out, and feels extremely secure in place with the liner lock.
Another excellent feature is the rigid angled thumb studs. You wouldn’t believe how easy it is to grip the nubs, and whip it out. Kershaw really made something special with the Blur. They even upgraded the steel in this new version to Sandvik 14C28N with DLC coating. So it’s tough. Which brings me to the tiny carbide tip embedded in the aircraft aluminum handle. People don’t even notice the special tip at first, but believe me, it works. I broke a sheet of glass in my video, plus several bottles with minimal effort. The glass breaking feature is one I have to have on my EDC knife. It could save my life if I’m ever trapped in a vehicle, and it’s not bad for self defense either.
The Kershaw Blur is a great size, and light at only 4.2 ounces. I like the blade length too, at 3 3/8″. The overall length is 7 7/8″, and 4 1/2″ closed. And the belt clip is removable, so you can have the tip up or down. In the end, this is the knife I trust with my life right now. It’s blacked out, and stealth. But above all, it’s well made, and sharp as hell. Survival Bros gives it 5 Stars. I can’t complain about it at all, besides the handles getting a little scratched up after smashing so much glass. I go into more detail in my HD video review below. Please comment, and feel free to ask me any questions about it. Thanks for visiting Survival Bros – Emergency Preparedness.
Survival Bros by Cameron McKirdy 