Posted by: comms
Arizona Survivor / Prepper Expo - 05/20/12 12:11 AM
On Friday I learned that the next day the first Arizona Survival/Prepper Expo (S/PE) would be going on right up the street from my house. I decided to attend and here is my impressions.
I arrived 20 minutes after the doors opened to find that the main parking lot full. I did not expect this and was actually happy as I really did think it would be a bunch of vendors and no consumers. I'd never been to a prepper conference, expo, convention before.
I stood in line for a few minutes, paid my fare and walked into to the convention room, the main hanger of Falcon Fields WW2 aircraft museum and I was shocked to see the place completely packed with patrons.
I stayed for approximately 90 minutes, which allowed me to stroll the 50 vendors once and return to a few personal choices for a longer browse. I would say there were 4 categories of vendors in order of most prevalent to least; food companies, medical vendors, tactical gear, investments.
Food. There were the usual vendors hawking dehydrated items in prepacked pouches and #10 cans and canning products. One company cleverly sold all the dehydrated products individually and the foil bags and you made your own meals according to your food likes and calorie needs. Cost comparison was favorable and the foods I sampled were actually really palatable. The most notable food company there was for rabbits. They sold rabbits and had a program for raising the rabbits as a method of sustainable food.
Along with actual food was food use products. I watched a speaker give a group lecture on solar cooking and solar ovens (one of many many expert topics held every 30 minutes throughout the day). It was a hit living in Arizona and it being 100*+ today. Also as mentioned above, a large vendor table of canned goods and supplies using Ball canning products. I did see a small grinding mill for around $80, I mention this as I generally see these run much more. Quite a few vendors sold blue water containers in the 35-55 gallon range with all the additions needed, wrenches, pumps and such.
Medical. I honestly could not believe there was so much space devoted to medical prepping. Everything from IFAK supply's to Platoon level FAK to Massive trauma packs and even dentistry kits. Its was amazing and amazingly expensive to buy some of those items. The only thing I purchased at the expo was a pair of EMT shears that came in a dedicated MOLLE pouch. Hard to find those pouches. Lots of quick clot, wrappings, bandages, chemicals. It was overwhelming to think on that scale.
Tactical Gear. Almost every vendor selling actual gear sold Goal Zero recharging products. I like that company though I don't have any of their products. Nothing you could not get for a better price online except for some of the custom camo covers that were for sale. Lots of pouches, bags, packs assorted surplus items. Of note is one vendor had A-TAC camouflage tops, and I was interested in the pattern as I want to get a set. I was impressed. What also impressed me was the amount of surplus stores in Phoenix that I hadn't ever heard off and they had good products. One closer to my house than the one I normally frequent.
Some of you may have watched the show Doomsday Preppers on NatGeo, one of the subjects lived in Phoenix and you may remember him for two reasons, the first is that he had the Crovel shovel and the second he almost blew off his thumb while shooting in the desert with his kids. Apparently he has a prepper company called Gear Up. His table wasn't very big but half of it was showcasing the Crovel, that wicked zombie apocolypse e-tool. That thing is heavy. It must weigh eight pounds. And yeah he still had a splint on his thumb.
The last grouping of vendors were showcasing retreat real estate, worked with people buying gold or silver or just advertising some sort of advocacy group that survival/prepper communities can attract.
I was actually able to take pictures and will post them soon. Or hope to. I have not tried posting photos on here before and this is not a photo heavy forum. But I got some good shots and hope to add them. I also picked up several business cards, so I will try to include some of those names later as well, if needed.
I arrived 20 minutes after the doors opened to find that the main parking lot full. I did not expect this and was actually happy as I really did think it would be a bunch of vendors and no consumers. I'd never been to a prepper conference, expo, convention before.
I stood in line for a few minutes, paid my fare and walked into to the convention room, the main hanger of Falcon Fields WW2 aircraft museum and I was shocked to see the place completely packed with patrons.
I stayed for approximately 90 minutes, which allowed me to stroll the 50 vendors once and return to a few personal choices for a longer browse. I would say there were 4 categories of vendors in order of most prevalent to least; food companies, medical vendors, tactical gear, investments.
Food. There were the usual vendors hawking dehydrated items in prepacked pouches and #10 cans and canning products. One company cleverly sold all the dehydrated products individually and the foil bags and you made your own meals according to your food likes and calorie needs. Cost comparison was favorable and the foods I sampled were actually really palatable. The most notable food company there was for rabbits. They sold rabbits and had a program for raising the rabbits as a method of sustainable food.
Along with actual food was food use products. I watched a speaker give a group lecture on solar cooking and solar ovens (one of many many expert topics held every 30 minutes throughout the day). It was a hit living in Arizona and it being 100*+ today. Also as mentioned above, a large vendor table of canned goods and supplies using Ball canning products. I did see a small grinding mill for around $80, I mention this as I generally see these run much more. Quite a few vendors sold blue water containers in the 35-55 gallon range with all the additions needed, wrenches, pumps and such.
Medical. I honestly could not believe there was so much space devoted to medical prepping. Everything from IFAK supply's to Platoon level FAK to Massive trauma packs and even dentistry kits. Its was amazing and amazingly expensive to buy some of those items. The only thing I purchased at the expo was a pair of EMT shears that came in a dedicated MOLLE pouch. Hard to find those pouches. Lots of quick clot, wrappings, bandages, chemicals. It was overwhelming to think on that scale.
Tactical Gear. Almost every vendor selling actual gear sold Goal Zero recharging products. I like that company though I don't have any of their products. Nothing you could not get for a better price online except for some of the custom camo covers that were for sale. Lots of pouches, bags, packs assorted surplus items. Of note is one vendor had A-TAC camouflage tops, and I was interested in the pattern as I want to get a set. I was impressed. What also impressed me was the amount of surplus stores in Phoenix that I hadn't ever heard off and they had good products. One closer to my house than the one I normally frequent.
Some of you may have watched the show Doomsday Preppers on NatGeo, one of the subjects lived in Phoenix and you may remember him for two reasons, the first is that he had the Crovel shovel and the second he almost blew off his thumb while shooting in the desert with his kids. Apparently he has a prepper company called Gear Up. His table wasn't very big but half of it was showcasing the Crovel, that wicked zombie apocolypse e-tool. That thing is heavy. It must weigh eight pounds. And yeah he still had a splint on his thumb.
The last grouping of vendors were showcasing retreat real estate, worked with people buying gold or silver or just advertising some sort of advocacy group that survival/prepper communities can attract.
I was actually able to take pictures and will post them soon. Or hope to. I have not tried posting photos on here before and this is not a photo heavy forum. But I got some good shots and hope to add them. I also picked up several business cards, so I will try to include some of those names later as well, if needed.