Just a heads-up for those with allergies (or intolerance) to foods with corn sweeteners.

I decided to freshen up my survival food bar supply today and searched around to see what was available. I discovered that the popular ER Bars and Mainstay bars both contain corn syrup sweeteners and corn starch, both of which I am very allergic to.

The Datrex food ration bars are sweetened only with cane sugar, so I ordered some of those for that reason.

The last thing I need in a survival situation is to consume emergency rations that give me a substantial bad physical reaction that lasts for days.

Yesterday I plugged a gap in my tool collection upon receipt of a 36" Tove "Wrecking" Bar. It is surprisingly light. And wicked sharp! I feel like it should have a sheath on both ends.

Was persuaded to go with the Tove because it is part of Gransfors Bruks. Would like to also get a smaller Tove -- 12" or so -- but am looking for a cheaper and still quality alternative.

Any recommendations?

Do you all out in earthquake country have any preferences for size or brand of pry bars for emergency use?

http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/tovewreckingbar36.aspx

TOVE Wrecking Bar 36"

TOVE Wrecking Bars are made of specially alloyed spring steel, tempered for extra strength. They feature extreme strength in relation to their length and low weight, and in tests performed by the National Swedish Institute for Materials Testing, the bars were found to withstand extreme strain without yielding. The chisel end and the nail claw end are both sharpened so the edges can easily be wedged behind ledges, planks, moldings, etc., and are designed with a broad surface to provide minimal damage and marring to the working head. The nail claw has a precision angled V-slot design to allow nails to be pulled regardless of the size of the head. Weighs 5.5 lbs.

Hi,

I am planning to store water in 20L Jerrycans.

Do I need to treat the water with some kind of additive (chlorine, iodine, etc.) in order to prevent the growth of micro organisms ?

The idea is to replace the water every 6 months or so.

Anyone baton any wood with their RSK MK1? Suppress your gasps. I know you shouldn't do it with a folder, but I'm curious. Been carrying a fixed blade Mora for a while because everyone says DON'T risk breaking the pin on a folder by batoning with it. Anyone break one of these yet?

Cheers,

-M

Where do you find potable water during a flood?
One choice - I think - is to use transpiration bags over growing vegetation. It seems to me that this would work when: the weather is hot; there is sunshine; you had the right equipment.
Has anyone out there had any experience with transpiration bags under these circumstances?

Opinions?

I won't get flooded where I live in the high desert, so I don't really have a way to test this!