I was wandered into Dillard's (A Macy's clone) yesterday and discovered a display of survival gear! They had two big tables of the stuff right in the middle of the men's department. The prices were really high but the packs, kits, and gadgets were pretty cool from a gear-freak's perspective. Still, it was a shock to see this kind of stuff in this type of store. Maybe the sheep are beginning to look up...

1. Life Gear "Wings of Life" Safety Backpack
2. Life Gear "Life Essentials" 3-Day Survival Kit
3. Life Gear 6-in-1 Personal Safety Device
4. Life Gear "LifeLight" Incorporated into this light is an ultrasonic high-frequency mosquito-repelling audio transmitter. Cool!

Description from the "Wings of Life" backpack:
The Life Gear "Wings of Life" is your complete personal safety backpack to give you peace of mind, wherever you go. Use with confidence in emergency situations, for disaster preparedness or anytime outdoors. Designed for backpacking, boating, camping and emergency situations, the lightweight backpack provides the “Essentials of Life”: water, food, shelter and peace of mind. The backpack features:
water-resistant cover
58x84” emergency shelter tarp with cords and detachable “wings of life”
design that accommodates a sleeve system for storage of food/water
cell phone/walkie talkie carrying case
14 pockets/sleeves
multifunction tool sleeve with multifunction tool
ergonomic design for both children and adults that includes cushioned shoulder straps, expandable side seams and a back ventilation system for cool-air flow
see-through pockets for quick access to items
rink hooks for added attachments
two side pockets for storage
3-day supply of food and water (5-year shelf life)
all-weather poncho
thermal blanket
hygiene kit
signaling mirror
first aid kit
signaling whistle
directional compass
magnifying glass
gloves
respirator mask
red emergency flashing light
waterproof document/cash bag

They had a few more kits and gadgets, but above was all I could find on their webpage. The stuff really did make my gear-freak/bag-ho hairs tingle. Maybe if the gear ends up on clearance I'll pick some up.

-Blast

Even if it did go on clearance, I don't think I'd buy it at Dillard's...just the principle of the matter. That's just not how I roll.

But it's nice to see that the upper crust can now be prepared, and be fashionable at the same time. Maybe it will be chic now and we'll see celebrities sporting the latest in on body kits. Armani, DKNY...the possibilities are endless! Maybe Chanel could come up with a survival fragrance...one that could be detected by a special device that could pin point a lost hiker with a broken heel on their designer hiking boots ( and broken nail--I need a manicurist!) faster than if the person had a GPS microchip!

I'm not digging on you Blast, I just really don't like the whole attitude of people I've seen shopping in Dillard's and places like it. And I guess it irritates that preparedness might become trendy. It shouldn't be trendy, it should be a constant.

With that said, I'll probably head to Dillard's to check it out for myself.

The "upper crust" always relies on the blue collar people for help. Check any volunteer fire department or volunteer ambulance group & I bet you don't find many (if any) doctors, lawyers, corporate executive people, or millionaires. They don't have time. Those trips to the Bahamas, Hawaii, Cancun & ski trips to Aspen & Vail are time consuming. Managing their stock portfolio & the staff at their multi-million dollar estates takes time too. Who has time to aid others? Remember, we are the "little people".

When I think of survival gear from a department store, I think I might rather have the pez survival kit <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />. Search for it if you don't get it. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I could not agree more!!!! I'm on the local volinteer fire dept, and it's a pain to see all the "able bodied" people that think it's a joke untill they need help. But what is even sadder is after it's all said and done they still wont help out and still ask if we have "saved" any foundations latley

Lamborgini (sp) used to make an SUV, probably still does.

The Saudi's bought a bunch of them in the mid-80s, had a local shop put in kevlar pads and light weight armour glass (say about the equivelent of a type II or IIIA vest, just anti-fragment really), and a pair of pintles. They could fire the FN MAG or the MILAN anti-tank missile by opening the sun roof and standing up.

Must be nice to have that kind of money.

Holy Cow! I gotta' have one...

Pez Jungle Survival Kit

I assume that this sweeping statement does not apply to the doctors working in emergency rooms and in community health clinics, the attorneys working in public defenders and prosecutors offices, and the attorneys working for volunteer legal services, all of who work long hours for either the local community or the poor. Most of these folks can't afford an expensive vacation given their salaries and large graduate school debt.

We all know there are some good lawyers and doctors. Some.(Just kidding). I don't think the statement was meant to offend or apply to those. <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I've been trying to figure out what you ment by this. Sure, the upper management guys and the corporate lawyers, there I agree.

But I know that my local VFD has a lawyer and two accountants on it. And a doctor's place isn't that close to the point, but back where the conditions are stable enough for his or her training to be used effectively; that being said, one of the local docs in my area used to trade a sesson's pass on a ski resort for working on thier ski patrol, just like a couple dozen EMTs.

You know, I'm suprised that a number of others here haven't taken offense at your statement.

First, I'm on the low end of the economic food chain.

And it may be amusing to poke fun at people who are better off than some of us. OTOH, some of the people here aren't exactly living in The Projects. (If that term is still in use)

There are people from all income brackets that are nothing but a PITA. It's due to mindset and training, not income level.

With Katrina, we saw people in new $30,000 SUVs complaining about the lack of handouts. We heard of poor people who wouldn't leave their 26 dogs behind. (Why does a poor person need 26 dogs?)

Stupidity, greed, the it-won't-happen-to-me mindset, the ones who refuse to prepare come from all income brackets from one extreme to the other.

If a wealthier person can afford to buy and run a nice China Diesel generator, and store fuel for it, would you refuse their offer of refrigeration/power if a family member were diabetic or on an oxygen machine?

So.... are you saying that the well-off shouldn't prepare?

And aren't we being just a bit supercilious?


Sue

I'm working for that company and have not seen anything like that in the store. It would be a miracle if they carried that stuff in all the stores including mine, its a start.
Always by on clearence the stuff is sold at full retail.

Lee

I'm not saying that the well off shouldn't prepare...I'm just saying they shouldn't do it with designer gear that is most likely inferior quality because it's trendy and hip and the latest fashionable thing.

But I haven't gone to check it out for myself yet...maybe it's decent stuff...if so, let the well off go for it. If Dillard's was stocking some of the name brands so familiar to this forum, I'd be all for it. However I'm reserving my judgement until I check it out.

Looks cool. I'm liking the looks of this stuff.

Craig

http://www.dillards.com/endeca/EndecaStartServlet?N=1590902 is what you are talking about right? They have a few items here, but nothing that (like Charleton Heston in True Lies) "blows up my skirt". Might be decent quality in person, but seems overpriced.

I think the comments on lawyers and doctors and otherwise well-off folk not being good community helpers was obviously intended as a joke, but dang... even I didn't find it that funny. Maybe if you had just kept it to lawyers.... <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

But I'd say this, if Dillards had a decent set of kit for a good price, why would I care who else shopped there or if they turned their noses up to my Columbia canvas pants loaded down with my EDC? My money spends the same as anyone else.

P.S. Susan, some folks with 30,000 SUVs can barely afford them. They are seriously in debt in a lot of cases. Around here we call it "car poor". You know, the guys with a rundown shack of a house with a $40k Tahoe parked in front. On lease. Always late on the payment. Can't keep it in fuel... I often see the same folks buying cigarettes and beer at the checkout while their kid looks like he's half starving.