I am a lifelong hunter and I just went bowhunting for the first time last month. I have been in your shoes so maybe this might be of help.

It's likely that the $250.00 bow at Walmart is good enough to get started on. The problem is that it's also likely that it isn't going to fit you for crap. I'd much rather have a cheap bow that fits than a $750.00 bow that doesn't, but a $250.00 bow that doesn't fit is going to be plain horrible.

Do yourself a favor, go into your local archery shop, and at least have a look around. Go after hunting season. Hunters are a fickle lot. Many just have to have the latest, superfast bow available. That means that there are plenty of used ones available that are great bargains. Or even check Ebay. But either way, get a professional to set up your bow. It will be much easier down the road, trust me.

By the way, bowhunting is a blast. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Regards, Vince

On the vehicle front, you might want to look into the Jeep Liberty CRD. It's the diesel version introduced by Jeep into the U.S. in the 2005 model year. It is my understanding that Jeep is looking into offering a diesel version of the Wrangler in the near future. (The engines in both models are based on current European versions).

JimJr

One more general piece of advice -- for the basics, get what you can on your budget sooner rather than witing to buy up the deluxe gear. The $10 knife with you is much better than the $300 sebenza still sitting on the store shelf. If you are careful, you should be able to cover the basics for $100 or so, even if some of the gear is a compromise. Then, you can upgrade certain items later, as funds allow.

When I first started preparing, I found the price tag of some of the gear intimidating, which caused me to put off getting everything together. My BOB now has a $0.99 knife. Not great, but better than nothing (but I always have my Leatherman Wave with me, so no biggie).

Of course, feel free to ignore this advice if you last name is "Trump" or "Gates."

Watches: this summer I went looking with roughly the same criteria. I found lots of compass watches and lots of solar-powered ones, but very few that had both features. In fact, the Casio SPF range linked earlier was about it. I bought one of those, and am fairly happy with it. However, it costs twice what you said you'd pay. It's physically big and I'd say it was more gadget/nerdy than "good looking". I wear it partly because of its other features, especially the down-counter which my previous watch didn't have. I'm a nerd. I like gadgets.

Since buying it I have been coming around to the view that solar power is a mistake. It still uses batteries, which charge up during the day and discharge at night. That must have a finite cycle life, albeit lasting longer than non-rechargable batteries would. I suspect now that it would better to get a normal battery watch and stockpile the batteries.

Carrying a separate compass is hugely cheaper than getting one built into the watch. However, I do find the watch one more convenient - it is one less thing to carry on my keyring. As others have said, if you know you are going to need a compass, take a proper one in addition to your every-day carry, whether the EDC be button or watch.

The SPF also has a barometer, which is potentially useful for local weather prediction. In practice, probably not. Mine draws a little graph, but it's a bit too small to use - my previous Casio did better. If you care about the weather you should probably check a proper forecast. Some models which have a barometer also have an altitude feature, which could potentially help when navigating, but my SPF goes for a depth gauge instead (which is useless to me - and its not rated for SCUBA use).

I have seen watches which showed tide times, that might be useful if you live near the coast.

You can get watches that store phone numbers and other data, but nowadays it is probably better to store that stuff in a mobile phone.

I can't think of anything else that would be "great for survival" other than general build-quality, reliability and water-proofness.

> I can't think of anything else that would be "great for survival"

By chance, I just came across this - a watch with a magnifying glass and LED torch. I have no idea whether it is any good. In my experience magnifying glasses are useless for lighting fires (at least in the UK), and the torch is probably weak compared to a Photon Freedom. But interesting, all the same.

I would love to have a $100 flash light and $250 pocket knife but I start with the cheaper stuff because it cost less when I break it. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

There are diesels and there are Duramaxes. The rattely diesels are found in Fords and Dodges. The Duramax is found in Chevys and GMC's. Expect over 20MPG highway and a "quiet" engine. And, Duramax DOES NOT SMOKE, except a little on startup. Unfortunately, it does have the awful smell of diesel but not in the cab. If you are considering a diesel, research the Duramax with the Allison transmission. It sold me and I have been a lifetime Ford fan. No more. <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Is "rattely" a word? Maybe it's "rattley" or "rattle-y". Or maybe you spell it "Dodge"! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

There must be some Duramax owners on the forum. Post your opinion which I know will be positive. <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Take a look here:

[url=HTTP://thedieselplace.com/forum/index.php?][url=HTTP://thedieselplace.com/forum/index.php?][url=HTTP://thedieselplace.com/forum/index.php?][url=HTTP://thedieselplace.com/forum/index.php?]HTTP://thedieselplace.com/forum/index.php?[/url][/url][/url][/url]

I hope I can still afford to drive it after all the hurricane mess. I just filled up the 25 gallon tank for $67.48 and they didn't even clean my windshield! <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> I have bought used cars in the distant past for less than that. I once had a Ford Model A coupe with rumble seat that I used for fishing. Paid $25 and that was after haggling! <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />